Date: 19 – 23 August 2024
Location: KOPEL Kinabatangan
During the 5-days workshop, the participants were thoroughly impressed by KOPEL Bhd’s innovative approaches to post-pandemic recovery by utilising Green Recovery strategies and showcased their ability to leverage critical factors in navigating the challenges of the pandemic. Green Recovery is a term of environment, regulatory and fiscal reforms to recover prosperity after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Throughout the workshop, regenerative tourism and community-based tourism were focused on because they both play crucial roles in creating sustainable and positive impacts from tourism. In short, regenerative tourism aims to improve the environment and communities overall while community-based tourism focuses on benefiting and involving local people in tourism. By integrating these approaches, the workshop demonstrated how tourism can be both environmentally restorative and economically empowering for local communities presented by amazing presenters;
Session 1: Introduction to Green Recovery Economy and Green Recovery by Prof. Amran Hamzah from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Session 2: The Handbook on Rebuilding Rural Tourism in APEC Economies by Utilising Green Recovery Strategies by Prof. Amran Hamzah from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Session 3: Understanding the concept of community-based rural landscape restoration in the context of regenerative tourism by Dr. Nadzirah Hosen from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Session 4: The Role of government stakeholders in Green Recovery of rural tourism communities by Mdm. Halimah Haji Hassan from Sabah Tourism Board (SBT)
Session 5: Synergy between community-based tourism and conservation: KOPEL’s role in forest landscape restoration along the Kinabatangan River of Life by Sir. Saidal Udin from KOPEL Bhd.
Session 6: Scaling up the breadth and depth of the CBT experience and preparing the next generation of rural tourism leaders and entrepreneurs by Sir. Mohd. Hasim Abd. Hamid from KOPEL Bhd.
Session 7:Empowering Local Youth and Women Through Forest Landscape Restoration and Cultural tourism by Mdm. Za Za Rita Badron from KOPEL Bhd.
Session 8: Forest Landscape Restoration and Carbon Sequestration by Prof. Mohammad Rafee Majid from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)
Session 9: The role of oil palm companies in supporting community-based tourism by Mdm. Rashidah Maqbool Rehman from Sawit Kinabalu Conservation & Biodiversity Unit
During the workshop, the participants also took part in a visit to KOPEL Nursery and went to replanting site. Interestingly, they get the amazing opportunity to stay at Tungog Rainforest Eco Camp, one of the top-tier eco-camp in Kinabatangan. Not only that, we also visited Supu Cave, a site where KOPEL is dedicated to preserve their cultural and ancient history. To enrich the experience, we were also treated a vibrant cultural performance by Menompos Culture Group, showcasing traditional music and dance. On the last day of the workshop, participants presented what they learnt by the 5-days workshop. The closing ceremony began with special remarks from Mr. Abd Sanih Hj Nasri, Chairman of KOPEL, Kinabatangan and concluded with a speech by Mr. Nizran Noordin, Director General of Islamic Tourism Centre.
Thank you for the amazing opportunity!
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