News

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the safety of the people is top priority in the wake of Indonesia’s Mount Ruang volcanic eruptions in North Sulawesi province on Wednesday evening. He said the state is monitoring the situation closely.  “I have been briefed about the situation and we are keeping tab. Safety is priority…

Sabah Community Based Tourism Fair 2024 will debut outside Sabah at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya, in October. Sabah Tourism Board chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, emphasizes the need for local operators to explore new markets. The event aims to facilitate discussions on packaging rural destinations for broader appeal. A Mentor and Mentee Programme will launch in…

The much-anticipated Sabah-Malaysia My Second Home (Sabah-MM2H) programme is expected to be implementable by next month after several amendments have been put in place, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew. She said the government is in the process of finalising the terms and conditions of the programme.  “The State Cabinet has approved the…

The proposed Trans Borneo Railway project linking Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan, Indonesia, is hailed by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as a boon to the Borneo region. “Once materialised, the project will be impactful to enhance  people-to-people connectivity and economically, it will facilitate trade, promote growth of industries at the border areas and…

Far-flung villages in Sabah won’t be left out on efforts to boost the livelihoods of rural communities through tourism, stated Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. To date, STB has catalogued 133 rural tourism products across the 10 poorest districts in Sabah, including community-based tourism, homestays, and privately owned ventures. The districts are…

Sabah’s tour companies and hotels reaped nearly RM3 million in sales at the recent three-day Matta Fair in Kuala Lumpur. Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai highlighted Semporna as the most sought-after destination. He added that the Sabah tourism team also observed strong interest in nature-based attractions…

Sabah Tourism Board (STB) made waves at ITB Berlin 2024, captivating industry professionals and travelers alike. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew seized the opportunity to showcase Sabah’s tourism potential and dispel misconceptions. The event saw queries about Sabah’s accessibility, with Liew emphasizing engagement with the European market, particularly Germany. Despite some attendees’…

Sabah is encouraging more people from the Peninsula to consider vacationing there because it offers cheaper alternatives compared to international travel. Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, emphasizes that visiting Sabah not only saves money but also promotes cultural exchange among Malaysians from different regions. Despite the weakening Ringgit, Sabah remains an…

Sabah showcased its outdoor and camping attractions at the Matta Fair 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from 22-24 March. Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister cum Chairman of Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Datuk Joniston Bangkuai stated that Sabah’s offerings align with the global trend of “healing…

The International Wholistic Wellness Conference & Expo (IWWCE 2024) in Kota Kinabalu has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Thailand Wellness Asia Summit 2024 (TWAS 2024) to jointly promote wholistic wellness events globally. The partnership aims to advocate for medical wellness communities and tourism across ASEAN and beyond. The agreement was signed between…