KOTA KINABALU: April 27, 2026 Airfares The state government is taking steps to cushion the impact of rising air transportation costs, which could affect international tourism and Sabah’s tourism supply chain. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said global conflicts and higher airfares are creating direct challenges for the state’s tourism industry, which…
Sabah Tourism Board (STB) held its first meeting with local tourism players following the establishment of its Crisis Response Unit to gather feedback on fuel supply constraints and access to subsidies. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai chaired the meeting at the STB office. He said the feedback would be compiled and…
It was a full house when wildlife documentary “ITAM: A Sun Bear Story” premiered at Golden Village Suntec City in Singapore. The film depicts the emotional story of the Bornean sun bear and ongoing conservation efforts at the world’s only Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sandakan. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and…
The Sabah government is targeting more than four million tourist arrivals in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, while planning to roll out Visit Sabah Year 2027 as part of efforts to further revitalise the state’s tourism sector. The initiatives were outlined in the state government policy address delivered by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman…
Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and Tourism Malaysia (TM) are aligning their tourism promotion strategies following the extension of the Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign to the end of 2027. This was discussed during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur between an STB delegation led by chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who is also Assistant Minister to the Chief…
Sabah continues to strengthen its position as one of Malaysia’s leading tourism destinations, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin. “Sabah continues to stand out as one of Malaysia’s most unique and attractive destinations, offering rich cultural diversity, natural landscapes and the hospitality of its people,” he said. He said this when officiating…
A special task force has been set up to address critical issues in Semporna’s tourism industry, Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said. He said Semporna will serve as a model for restructuring the tourism sector across Sabah, focusing on licensing compliance, tourist safety and infrastructure. “KePKAS will not compromise with operators who…
Sabah has launched three key initiatives to strengthen sea turtle conservation and sustainable tourism. These are the Sabah sea turtle action plan, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for turtle hatcheries in Sabah, and a comprehensive behavioural change campaign to address the consumption of turtle eggs. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the…
Sabah is stepping up efforts to promote cultural tourism through the development of the Sabah Murut Cultural Centre Project in Tenom (PKMST), said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Jafry Ariffin. He said the State Government remains committed to empowering heritage-based tourism by preserving the cultural identity of the Murut community while enhancing the sector’s long-term…
Sabah generated total sales of RM5,098,153.74 at the recent Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Fair in Kuala Lumpur, reflecting strong demand among domestic travellers. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the strong sales performance would encourage Sabah’s continued participation in major travel fairs to boost visitor arrivals. “The Matta…