TAWAU: The State Government will step up high-impact cultural and nature-based programmes ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Visit Sabah Year 2027 to attract more domestic and international tourists, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said.
He said the Tawau International Cultural Festival (FKAT) had become a successful platform and a model for cultural festivals in Sabah.
Speaking at the finale of the 11th FKAT 2026 on Saturday, Hajiji said the Government would strengthen cultural festivals, community-based tourism and digital tourism promotion to support the State's tourism agenda.
The event featured delegations from Indonesia, Cambodia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, alongside 30 local ethnic groups, and attracted an estimated 80,000 visitors from the opening day.
Three special awards were also presented to honour the late former Apas assemblyman Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan, former Tawau Municipal Council President Datuk Ismail Mayakob and former Sabah Cultural Board General Manager Datuk (Datu) Rosmadi Datu Sulai for their contributions to the festival.
