o Post 14 th April 2005In a speech at the launch of "Saving Paradise: The Story of Sukau Rainforest Lodge" book by Albert Teo and Carol Patterson here yesterday, Chong said: "I would like to urge all operators, especially those who operate lodges and tours in fragile environments, not only in the Kinabatangan region, to be sensitive to the needs of such environments and eco-systems."
Chong, whose speech was delivered by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Karim Bujang, pointed out that areas such as the floodplains of Lower Kinabatangan have many fundamental values and functions.
"Our natural resources within the protected area networks or outside are the very assets on which the tourism industry in Sabah directly or indirectly, is based," he stressed. ,
Tourism players therefore can help nurture the sustainable growth of the industry by adhering to good and ethical practices, he said.
According to Chong, this can be achieved by simply avoiding selfish short-term economic gains and non-sustainable activities at the expense of our nature-based tourism resources and the industry as a whole.
The industry, he said, needs to cultivate best practices, develop benchmarks and promote high standards of development and services. "A critical stage in the development of the industry today lies in the need to find ways to regulate its members and help them to toe the line," he said, adding that the book launch could be a start.
Chong further said that the success of Sukau Rainforest Lodge should be emulated by tourism operators so that Sabah can be known internationally for quality eco-tourism products.
Towards this end, he said, the Government would like to see more investors and operators invest in ecotourism products of quality and value, which will not only Protect and conserve the environment, but also generate employment and spin-off opportunities and economic benefits, especially for rural communities.
Meanwhile, Karim, when met after the launch of the book, said that local communities in Sukau must be made to understand the Government's efforts to assist them.
"We found out that it is best that the people understand that what the Government is doing is for their future," he said, adding that most of these people now understand just how important the flora and fauna found there are to their livelihood.
Karim pointed out that wildlife such as the Proboscis monkey is now an icon to the local communities in Lower Kinabatangan and the people realize that without this animal and other wildlife, such as the Pygmy elephants, nobody would go to Sukau.
He also suggested that the villagers there consider farming the "udang galah" (freshwater prawns) instead of being too dependent on what is readily available in the wild.
"What will happen in years to come when the river cannot produce enough freshwater prawns to cater to the demand... That is why they have to look for some other sources," he stressed.
In The Borneo Post - 14 th April 2005 
KOTA KINABALU: Albert CK Teo, founder of Sukau Rainforest Lodge, believes that a management committee should be set up to regulate tours being conducted in the Lower Kinabatangan , in particular Sukau.
The committee should comprise the Government, private sector as well as conservation bodies, he said.
Albert, who co-authored the book, entitled "Saving Paradise. The Story of Sukau Rainforest Lodge" with Canadian Carol Patterson, said this when met at the book launch yesterday by Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Karim Bujang.
"I heard that the State Wildlife Department is in the process of setting up something similar to a management committee but we are in the dark about what is going to happen," he said.
"It is my hope that one day there I would be regulations, code of practice and enforcement," he said, adding that, Sukau should 'be regulated like Sipadan Island .
With the number of tourists visiting Sukau regulated, it would than be possible to claim that we have truly international ecotourism," he said. "If we can have that, we can increase tour rates and the Government can, by charging conservation and entrance fees, earn a revenue as well as finance the management committee.
"That way we can also ensure that the flora and fauna in Sukau would not disappear from the face of the earth, which is what this conference is all about and we want to make people understand that is not a threat, to them or to those whose livelihood is in the business," he said.
"With enforcement, there will be sustainability of business which is equally as important as sustainability of the wildlife.
Albert cautioned: "The tour operators must all understand that, otherwise we will be digging our own grave.?
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