Tamparuli Set To Soar Into International Tourism With Paragliding

TAMPARULI, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Tamparuli, located about 40km from Kota Kinabalu, is set to soar into international tourism, following the official launch of paragliding here on Saturday.

Once paragliding takes off, it would benefit the local community in economic and job opportunities, and also boost the state's tourism, said Youth and Sports Assistant Minister Datuk Jahid Jahim.

Jahid, who is also Tamparuli assemblyman, said Tamparuli had high potential for paragliding activities.

"This is good for Tamparuli as the recreational sport would be beneficial for the locals," he told reporters after officiating the event here.

Also present was Korea Paragliding Association president Kim Dong Sul who was specially invited for the launch. He has been here several times to assist with the trials of the paragliding activities.

The paragliding activities are operated by Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures and the take-off is from Bukit Ruhiang, over 1,000 feet high, and the landing at the flat land beside the Tamparuli Cultural House near the town.

"I was informed there are about 250,000 paragliders in Korea, and about six million worldwide. If we could get about 10,000 to come to Sabah, it would be enough to boost the tourism here," Jahid noted.

He said there were plans to promote tourism-related activities in Tamparuli, such as white water rafting and the potential of waterfalls in the sub-district, as a tourism product.

To a related question regarding infrastructural development, Jahid said a paragliding centre offered minimal costs while providing maximum impact in terms of tourism and generating the local economy.

He expressed confidence in boosting this particular sport as youths craved for challenging activities.

Meanwhile, Kim said Sabah had good hills and mountains like Bukit Ruhiang, to promote paragliding activities.

Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures chief operations manager Bruce Patrick Soimil, who has been acquainted with Kim for the past three years, hopes to bring international paragliding competitions to Tamparuli by next year.
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