News

Sabah’s push to boost tourist arrivals received a lift with the launch of a direct service from Chongqing to Kota Kinabalu, which brought in 154 passengers on Thursday.   The flight, operated by Chongqing Airlines, a subsidiary of China Southern Airlines, makes Chongqing the eighth Chinese city with direct links to Kota Kinabalu.   The…

Justin Chong of Chong Fui Travel has been elected the new chairman of the Sabah Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Satta) for the 2026–2028 term. He garnered 19 votes to defeat incumbent Dato’ Seri Winston Liaw, who secured 10 votes, during the association’s annual general meeting attended by 29 members at a hotel here….

The Borneo Rainforest Lodge (BRL) contributed 100 food packs to SK Lahad Datu 2 in conjunction with the Ramadan month, marking the season of giving.   “This is a simple way for BRL to demonstrate its ongoing commitment to the well-being of the community,” said its chief operating officer, Sail Jamaludin.   He said the…

Hong Kong personality Hugo Wong has been roped in to promote Sabah’s rural tourism in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign and Visit Sabah 2027. This followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), appointing him as corporate social responsibility strategic partner, with Malaysian Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah chairman Vincent Sia at…

In 2025, a total of 4.77 million Chinese tourists visited Malaysia, with about 690,000 travelling to Sabah, said Consul General of China in Kota Kinabalu, Zhu Xinglong. He said the increase stemmed from the mutual visa exemption agreement signed by China and Malaysia, allowing visa-free travel between the two countries. Currently, 716 flights operate weekly…

The United States has lowered its travel advisory for all mainland areas of Sabah, including the east coast, to Level 1: exercise normal precautions. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the state government welcomed the advisory, noting that the classification affirms Sabah as a safe and stable destination for international visitors. “While…

Sabah’s tourism industry recorded a strong performance in 2025, welcoming 3,793,709 visitors and generating RM8.74 billion in tourism receipts. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Jafry Ariffin said the state had surpassed its 3.5 million visitor target and was now aiming for four million arrivals in 2026. “Our primary focus remains on delivering excellent hospitality and…