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…
A cook pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court to a charge of possessing a pangolin, a fully protected wildlife species, at a resort in Semporna. The accused, Mohammad Ali Iqram Thien Abdullah, 45, entered the plea after the charge was read before Judge Ahmad Faizadh Yahaya. According to the charge, the man was found…
Due to the closure of designated airspace corridors in the Middle East, Batik Air has cancelled today’s (March 1) scheduled service between Kuala Lumpur and Dubai as a precautionary safety measure. The airline continues to closely monitor the evolving situation and assess its impact on regional airspace and flight operations. This decision is in line…
The Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) has collaborated with federal and state agencies to support Malaysia’s agriculture and fisheries ecosystem during ramadan. Strategic partners include the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DoA), Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA), Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia (LKIM), Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), Farmers’ Organisation Authority (LPP), and Sabah…
The United States has lowered its travel advisory for all mainland areas of Sabah, including the east coast, to Level 1: exercise normal precautions. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the state government welcomed the advisory, noting that the classification affirms Sabah as a safe and stable destination for international visitors. “While…
Sabah has taken another step to strengthen its autonomy in environmental management. This follows discussions with Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Arthur Joseph Kurup on the implementation of Article 95C of the Federal Constitution concerning the management of scheduled waste in the state. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Jafry Ariffin, who led the state…
One live pangolin (Manis javanica) was seized from a tourism resort in Semporna following an integrated operation carried out by enforcement agencies. The operation, codenamed Integrated Khazanah, was conducted on Feb 23, 2026 and involved the Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and police from the Intelligence Branch / Task Force of the 22nd Battalion General Operations…
Sabah’s tourism industry recorded a strong performance in 2025, welcoming 3,793,709 visitors and generating RM8.74 billion in tourism receipts. Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Jafry Ariffin said the state had surpassed its 3.5 million visitor target and was now aiming for four million arrivals in 2026. “Our primary focus remains on delivering excellent hospitality and…