Kuala Lumpur: Sabah aims to encourage visitors to extend their stay and explore beyond established hotspots so tourism benefits reach more local communities, said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin.
Speaking at the closing of the International Tourism, Arts and Culture Exhibition and Conference 2026 (Intac’26) at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre today, Jafry noted that the state holds significant potential to broaden visitor experiences through community-based offerings.
He said achieving this requires closer collaboration with industry players to develop fresh travel itineraries and forge stronger ties with local operators, transport providers, artisans, and entrepreneurs.
However, the minister stressed that expanding tourism reach across the state must not come at the expense of environmental conservation and cultural heritage preservation.
Sabah participated as both an exhibitor and strategic partner at the three-day event, which drew 154 exhibitors from 35 countries to exchange industry ideas and forge regional partnerships.
