Tourism Malaysia Sabah embarked on a familiarisation trip to explore the rural products of Tambunan ahead of Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026.
The trip, dubbed Mansau Ansau Borneo Trail, was held from 6 to 7 December and forms part of Tourism Malaysia’s ongoing efforts to promote domestic destinations in preparation for VMY2026.
This is the third edition of the rural programme and involved representatives from travel agencies and the local media to promote the interior of Sabah.
Along the journey, participants made a stop at Gunung Alab, an ideal spot for bird watching where about 30 species can be sighted at any one time, before proceeding to the Rafflesia Information Centre to see the rafflesia in the wild.
The natural beauty of Tambunan has earned it the moniker The Switzerland of the East, and the district is also rich in Kadazan Dusun traditional culture.
Enroute to Sunsuron to try the Kadazan Dusun cuisine and see demonstrations of rice wine making and herbal massage ointment preparation, they also visited Kulabut Molout Stall, which sells handicrafts, traditional pickled food and dresses.
The participants, guided by coordinator Bibiana Peter, also visited century-old sites such as the House of Skull or Guritom, the more than 100 year old bamboo house and the Watu Tinuridong, a leaning stone slab.
They later inspected and stayed overnight at the Tandarason Resort and Country Club.
Tambunan Tourism Association President Patricia Kitingan provided a tour of the town, which included the night market, the Gombunan landmark and the Sinurambi Viewing Point, a 14 metre basket shaped tower.
The highlight of the trip was the expedition to Kawang Kawang Canyon, which included a river walk and abseiling in Kampung Tiong.
The product caters to adventure seekers and showcases community involvement in nature based tourism.
Tourism Malaysia Sabah Director Haryanty Abu Bakar said: “We brought representatives from travel agencies and the local media to experience experimental tourism and to better understand local customs and culture, especially in Sabah, which is known for Community Based Tourism.”
She added that the trip is part of Tourism Malaysia’s strategy to strengthen its presence in the digital sphere, as media practitioners play an important role in introducing tourism products through impactful travel and storytelling content.
VMY2026 targets 47 million international arrivals. Tourism Malaysia is confident the target can be achieved through strong collaboration among all stakeholders.
