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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…

It was a full house when wildlife documentary “ITAM: A Sun Bear Story” premiered at Golden Village Suntec City in Singapore. The film depicts the emotional story of the Bornean sun bear and ongoing conservation efforts at the world’s only Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and…

The Sabah government is targeting more than four million tourist arrivals in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, while planning to roll out Visit Sabah Year 2027 as part of efforts to further revitalise the state’s tourism sector. The initiatives were outlined in the state government policy address delivered by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman…

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and Tourism Malaysia (TM) are aligning their tourism promotion strategies following the extension of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign to the end of 2027. This was discussed during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur between an STB delegation led by chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief…

Sabah continues to strengthen its position as one of Malaysia’s leading tourism destinations, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin. “Sabah continues to stand out as one of Malaysia’s most unique and attractive destinations, offering rich cultural diversity, natural landscapes and the hospitality of its people,” he said. He said this when officiating…