Kota Kinabalu: The State Government is targeting 3.5 million tourist arrivals in Sabah this year. Proactive efforts will be intensified, including promoting state tourism products and holding significant tourism events and activities in support of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
Musa said collaboration with airlines will be strengthened and more direct flight routes to Sabah sought.
“In addition, several key measures need to be taken, including development and improvement of transportation infrastructure to tourism destinations.
“Cleanliness, particularly in coastal areas and public restrooms, must also be given serious attention by Local Authorities to ensure the comfort and satisfaction of tourists,” he said.
“In the past year, Sabah recorded a total of 3.1 million tourist arrivals — a 20.4pc increase compared to 2023.
“Estimated tourism spending was recorded at RM7.28 billion, marking a 26.4pc increase from the previous year.
“This encouraging trend was driven by the addition of direct flights to Sabah from several international destinations, including Indonesia, China, South Korea, and Vietnam,” he said.
Musa also thanked the Ministry of Transport Malaysia for approving an allocation of RM572.3 million to upgrade Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) and Tawau Airport, which are expected to accommodate the growing number of tourist arrivals in Sabah.
“The State Government has also outlined the direction for the tourism sector under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), which emphasises the development of sustainable tourism products in harmony with environmental preservation.
“This year, the State Government plans to nominate Tun Mustapha Park for inclusion in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Green List, in recognition of its high standards in biodiversity conservation and sustainable natural resource management,” he said.
