The two-day conference on June 1 next year is organised jointly by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Sabah, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah branch and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Sabah will play host to about 200 experts in spiritual tourism for the first ever International Conference on Spirituality, Culture and Sustainable Tourism (SCST2017).
The two-day conference on June 1 next year is organised jointly by the Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA) Sabah, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Sabah branch and Universiti Sains Malaysia.
Themed ‘Spiritually, Culture and Sustainable Tourism’, the conference is also organised in conjunction with the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017.
Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili, Malaysia’s Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister (also KDCA deputy president) said the event was to conserve the local communities’ traditions and culture, as well as to introduce the new field of spiritual tourism studies.
The programme will highlight spiritual and ecological tourism products, services and processes.
The minister said the date of the conference was chosen to coincide with Sabah Kaamatan (Harvest) festival. Delegates will be able to observe the Kadazandusun celebrating the year’s harvest, their unique cultural heritage, and rituals honouring the ‘bambarayon’ (rice spirit).