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KOTA KINABALU: May 27, 2026 The recent Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair Sabah recorded a 50 per cent increase in visitors, with 37,499 people visiting the fair from April 17 to 19, 2026, compared with more than 25,000 last year. Matta Sabah chairman Mohd Azlan Saleh Abd Salam said the increase…

KOTA KINABALU: May 25, 2026 The Sabah Government will take firm action against those involved in fish bombing activities following a recent incident at the coral reef restoration site on Pulau Selakan in the Tun Sakaran Marine Park (TMTS), Semporna. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the incident had caused serious destruction…

KOTA KINABALU: May 11, 2026 Sabah is adopting a more adaptive approach to its tourism outlook as global aviation conditions continue to shift due to geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and changes in airline capacity.   Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said tourism planning for the state would be guided by a flexible…

SEMPORNA: May 8, 2026 Semporna needs comprehensive planning to transform it into a premier tourism hub within the blue economy sector, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. Hajiji said the district is unique as it is home to world-renowned tourist destinations, particularly Sipadan Island, as well as other islands that continue to attract visitors….

SEMPORNA: May 7, 2026 Semporna is poised to emerge as a world-class sustainable marine tourism hub under Sabah’s Blue Economy agenda, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said. He said the district has already become a benchmark for high-value and sustainable tourism management, particularly through the implementation of a daily visitor quota system at Sipadan…

KOTA KINABALU: May 5, 2026 Deputy Chief Minister II and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has urged the Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH) Sabah and Labuan and the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to work together more strategically in aligning tourism marketing with current conditions. He made the call as several hotels around Kota Kinabalu…

KOTA KINABALU: May 4, 2026 Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor is confident Sabah’s tourism sector will remain resilient despite challenges posed by the ongoing Middle East conflict. He said the crisis would force businesses to take bold and decisive action to navigate uncertainties, as its impact would be felt across all sectors. “This crisis…

KOTA KINABALU: April 30, 2026 Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said his ministry welcomes constructive suggestions from honourable members to ensure continued growth of the tourism sector, in response to issues raised by assemblymen. He said this in his winding-up speech at the Sabah Legislative Assembly sitting, where he responded to concerns…

KOTA KINABALU: April 30, 2026 Sabah tourism grew 17.7 per cent, with strategies to strengthen markets and prepare for Visit Sabah Year 2027 amid global challenges, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin in his winding-up speech at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting . Current Challenges in the tourism sector The year…

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…