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…
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…
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…
This year’s Kaamatan Festival in Tuaran will be hosted by Shangri-La Rasa Ria in collaboration with the Unduk Ngadau and Randawi Tavantang committees. The partnership aims to deepen cultural appreciation and strengthen Tuaran’s appeal as a heritage and sustainable tourism destination. Unduk Ngadau commemorates the legend of Huminodun, while Randawi Tavantang reflects the community spirit…
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…
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….
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…
Shangri-La Rasa Ria has reinforced its position as a premier destination after being recognised as a Chinese Friendly Hotel (2024–2026) by Trip.com. The resort also secured a Top 10 spot in the prestigious DestinAsian Reader’s Choice Awards 2026 for the Best Malaysia Resorts category. As global travel continues to evolve, the Chinese Friendly Hotel certification…
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…
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…