KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s rural Kiulu district is set to be the first Cittaslow (Slow City) - certified community in the country.
If Kiulu makes it into the list as a member of Cittaslow, a global movement that champions sustainable and community-driven growth, it would further strengthen Kiulu’s position in community-based tourism, said Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
This was announced during the STB Product Rural Tourism Committee (PRTC) meeting chaired by Bangkuai on Tuesday (Sept 30).
The Malaysia Talent Education and Industry-Academia Collaboration Association (M-TEIA) has proposed Kiulu as a potential candidate for the Cittaslow network, paving the way for it to become Malaysia’s first Cittaslow-certified community.
The state Tourism, Culture and Environment assistant minister said that Kiulu's potential was highlighted during the 6th Annual Meeting of the Cittaslow Taiwan General Assembly in Dongyin, Taiwan, on Sept 5 and Sept 6.
Bangkuai, who is the Kiulu assemblyman, said towns and villages under Cittaslow prioritise community well-being, environmental stewardship, cultural authenticity, and a slower pace of life.
“Being recognised this way shows that Kiulu is on the right track with our community-based tourism efforts, and it’s encouraging to see our work gaining international attention.
“It also shows how far STB has come in helping to put rural destinations on the map and highlighting what makes our community tourism so special,” he said.
Bangkuai said the Cittaslow philosophy aligned closely with the concept of slow travel – where visitors take their time, stay longer, and truly experience local life.
“This is something Sabah can build on to position slow and meaningful tourism as one of our unique strengths,” he added.
M-TEIA has played a key role in linking the Cittaslow Taiwan Alliance with STB’s community-based tourism initiatives, fostering cooperation between Taiwan and Sabah, he said.
In August, M-TEIA collaborated with STB and the Kiulu Tourism Association to organise an international exchange seminar in Kiulu, thereby strengthening knowledge sharing and building links with Taiwan’s Nanhua University.
Building on this momentum, the Kiulu Tourism Association partnered with Nanhua University to provide a three-year training programme for 15 farmers, focusing on pineapple cultivation, product processing, and agro-tourism development.
Kiulu Tourism Association president Meijin Manginggow said that with STB’s guidance, such partnerships will further empower local communities to diversify into agrotourism.
“What we notice in Kiulu is that travellers today are looking for more than sightseeing, wanting to slow down, join in village life, participate in farming activities, and understand how we live sustainably,” he said.
“Even content creators are coming to Kiulu, and recently, we had a group from Hong Kong who spent time with the community to learn and share their experiences,” he said.
