In the news

KOTA KINABALU: An engagement with Sabah tourism industry captains and enforcement officials to assess their state of preparedness and identify potential issues ahead of the April 1 national border re-opening, was held by the state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Ministry on Thursday (March 17). Among the concerns highlighted were airport congestion, inadequate airport immigration checkpoints, designated quarantine centres for Covid-19 positive travellers, and Covid-19 test requirement, in the meeting chaired by the Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai. (more…)

KOTA KINABALU, 15 March 2022: Sabah government’s special grants have aided 507 tourism projects in the state, most of which are in rural areas. The MYR10 million grant allocation not only alleviated the burden on local industry players hit hard by the pandemic but has prepared them for tourism revitalisation. According to the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), the special fund was used to improve tourism facilities in 27 districts and most being in the West Coast division with 248 projects. Other divisions that benefitted from the special fund were the Interior involving 92 tourism projects, Sandakan (82), Kudat (45), and the East Coast (40). (more…)

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s unique culture and rural destination experience leave a lasting impression on Malaysian Inbound Chinese Association (MICA) members, enhancing the state’s potential as a preferred holiday destination. The members toured several popular attractions in order to become more familiar with Sabah tourism products, including a community-based tourism spot in the highland Kundasang where they experienced natural fish spas and the ‘tagal’ system. They shared their fish spa experience on social media, which piqued the interest of Malaysians as well as their Chinese followers. Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said Sabah is constantly highlighting its rural destinations for their unique tourism offerings that cannot be found anywhere else. (more…)

KOTA KINABALU: The Borneo Ultra Trail Marathon (BUTM) is returning to rustic Kiulu after a year hiatus, with hopes of attracting 800 extreme marathon enthusiasts.

Supported by the Sabah Tourism Board, the event will see marathoners racing past Kiulu villages and through the forested terrain trails. It is set to take place from March 19-20.

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PENANG: Sabah and Penang are looking into the possibility of establishing a Friendship City relationship to further promote the tourism industries in both states. State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the initiative is relevant and fitting as Sabah and Penang work towards rebuilding and strengthening their tourism sector. "Given both states have busy international airports, such an exchange programme is a strategic approach to help bring in more domestic and international travellers while also increasing tourism receipts," he said in a statement. (more…)