KOTA KINABALU: A vibrant transformation is taking shape on Gaya Island, where water villagers are turning their homes into colourful, community-driven tourism attractions.
State Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai praised the Meraki Daat Initiative, a non-governmental organisation, for actively involving local residents in revitalising their villages as part of a community-based tourism (CBT) effort.
This follows Bangkuai’s first meeting with the Meraki Daat Initiative in 2022, where he encouraged the group to adopt a CBT approach to ensure stronger community engagement and shared economic benefits.
“This commitment aligns with the state’s push to promote sustainable tourism through initiatives that highlight Sabah’s unique identity and culture,” said the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman after a meeting with Meraki Daat Initiative president Michelle De La Harpe on Tuesday (July 1).
De La Harpe briefed Bangkuai on the progress of their ongoing Project Picasso, which aims to rejuvenate Gaya Island’s water villages and turn them into Instagram-worthy destinations.
The project involves creatively painting stilt houses and working with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote these villages as tourism hotspots.
In June, STB facilitated a workshop involving five water villages on Gaya Island, namely Lok Urai, Torong Logong, Lobong, Kesuapan, and Kampung Pondoh.
The villages are now working towards formal registration under the Community-Based Tourism Gaya Island umbrella.
“This is a positive step forward. Pulau Gaya is a unique settlement with its own story to tell. Developing community-based tourism here will add value for the villagers, especially given the island’s close proximity to the city centre.
“However, it is essential to create a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable tourism environment, and that starts with strong local participation and ownership,” Bangkuai said.
During the meeting, he also launched the 2025 Project Picasso Art Competition, themed Ocean Creatures, aimed at encouraging community creativity and enhancing the visual appeal of the villages.
De La Harpe shared that the project also integrates youth development, environmental sustainability, and the arts to transform public spaces into vibrant, community-owned tourism attractions.
“We are currently building a 200m pathway leading to the volleyball court using eco-bricks made from recycled plastic waste. This innovation won the United Nations Development Programme’s Island Waste Innovation Challenge last year,” she added.
The art competition runs from June 30 to July 31, with judging scheduled for Aug 1–7.
Site painting will take place from Aug 20–27, culminating in the official mural launch and opening ceremony on Aug 31.
The public can follow updates on the Meraki Daat Initiative via their website at www.merakidaat.org and on their social media platforms.
