Tourism Malaysia Sabah marked the Kaamatan Festival with a cultural welcome event at KKIA for arriving visitors on May 30, ahead of the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
A total of 27 flights arrived, bringing an estimated 930 international and 4,933 domestic travellers who were warmly greeted with cultural festivities.
Visitors enjoyed the Murut tribe’s magunatip dance and local treats like tapai.
Federal Tourism Minister Dato Sri Tiong King Sing launched the event with the beating of gong, while Tourism Malaysia Sabah director Haryanty Abu Bakar led Malayia Airport and tourism association representatives performed rice winnowing,
Kaamatan, held every May, celebrates the rice spirit “Bambaazon” and promotes unity and cultural pride.
Malaysia recorded 38 million visitors in 2024, up 31.1 per cent from 2023 and 8.3 per cent above 2019 levels.
Tourism revenue hit RM106.78 billion in 2024, rising 43.7 per cent from 2023 and 20 per cent above 2019
In early 2025, Malaysia saw 13.4 million arrivals, a 21 per cent year-on-year increase.
Top markets from Jan–Apr 2025 included Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, Brunei, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and the UK.
