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KOTA KINABALU: May 5, 2026 Deputy Chief Minister II and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has urged the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sabah and Labuan and the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to work together more strategically in aligning tourism marketing with current conditions. He made the call as several hotels around Kota Kinabalu…

KOTA KINABALU: May 4, 2026 Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is confident Sabah’s tourism sector will remain resilient despite challenges posed by the ongoing Middle East conflict. He said the crisis would force businesses to take bold and decisive action to navigate uncertainties, as its impact would be felt across all sectors. “This crisis…

KOTA KINABALU: April 30, 2026 Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said his ministry welcomes constructive suggestions from honourable members to ensure continued growth of the tourism sector, in response to issues raised by assemblymen. He said this in his winding-up speech at the Sabah Legislative Assembly sitting, where he responded to concerns…

KOTA KINABALU: April 30, 2026 Sabah tourism grew 17.7 per cent, with strategies to strengthen markets and prepare for Visit Sabah Year 2027 amid global challenges, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin in his winding-up speech at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting . Current Challenges in the tourism sector The year…

KOTA KINABALU: April 29, 2026 The Sabah government will not compromise against unlicensed tourism activities, including those carried out by foreign tourists, to safeguard local operators and ensure industry integrity. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said enforcement against such activities falls under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482), which is under…

KOTA KINABALU: April 28, 2026 The Sabah government should ensure a balanced tourism strategy that does not overly prioritise international arrivals at the expense of domestic travellers, Silam Assemblyman Datuk Dr Mohammad Yusof Apdal said. He said while Sabah is targeting more than four million tourist arrivals in line with Visit Malaysia 2026, greater attention…

KOTA KINABALU: April 28, 2026 Luyang Assemblyman Samuel Wong Tshun Chuen said Sabah has strong natural attractions but lacks diversified products and new tourism offerings, resulting in shorter visitor stays and low return visits. He proposed expanding the sector beyond conventional attractions by developing new segments such as food festivals, agro-tourism, sports tourism, cultural events…

KOTA KINABALU: April 27, 2026 The Sabah government has been urged to take immediate and coordinated action to address pollution affecting Tanjung Aru beach, amid concerns over its impact on the state’s tourism image. Tanjung Aru Assemblyman Datuk Wong Hong Jun said complaints of polluted water flowing into the sea were damaging environmental quality at…

KOTA KINABALU: April 27, 2026 Airfares The state government is taking steps to cushion the impact of rising air transportation costs, which could affect international tourism and Sabah’s tourism supply chain. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said global conflicts and higher airfares are creating direct challenges for the state’s tourism industry, which…

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) held its first meeting with local tourism players following the establishment of its Crisis Response Unit to gather feedback on fuel supply constraints and access to subsidies. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai chaired the meeting at the STB office. He said the feedback would be compiled and…