News
Sabah tourism feels rising fuel prices
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said rising global fuel prices are beginning to impact Sabah’s tourism sector, particularly in transportation and connectivity. “As a destination that relies heavily on air, land and sea access, the pressure on our industry players is real and immediate,” he said. He said the state government will…
Revisit sister-city ties to boost tourism, culture, economy
China’s Consulate-General in Kota Kinabalu has expressed support for revisiting sister-city partnerships to strengthen tourism, cultural and economic ties with Sabah, including exploring new areas of collaboration. Its Consul-General, Dr Zhu Xinglong, said maintaining strong and continuous links can bring mutual benefits, including opportunities for knowledge exchange, community development and sustainable growth. He said this…
Tenom Wesak Day to draw 800 visitors
About 800 devotees and tourists are expected to attend the 2026 state-level Wesak Day celebration in Tenom on May 30 and 31. A 6.5km charity run will also be held on May 30, open to public participation, said event chairman Datuk Seri Winston Liaw during a courtesy call on Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chief executive…
1,500 passengers touch down at KKIA
Tourism Malaysia welcomed 1,500 international and domestic passengers on the third day of Hari Raya celebrations at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) in conjunction with Visit Malaysia (VM) 2026. The travellers arrived on 21 flights from Singapore, Incheon, Kuala Lumpur, Kuching, Labuan, Lahad Datu, Tawau and Sandakan between 12pm and 4pm, said Tourism, Arts and…
Chongqing-Kota Kinabalu flights begin thrice weekly service
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…
Satta elects new chairman, committee for 2026-28
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….
BRL spreads Ramadan cheer with aid to school, oldfolks home
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 star to promote Sabah tourism for VM2026
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…
690,000 Chinese tourists visited Sabah in 2025
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…
US lowers travel advisory for Sabah east coast to Level 1
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…