TAWAU: The State Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS) has long advocated for the upgrading of Tawau Airport since 2018, recognising that this crucial infrastructure enhancement—though overdue—remains both timely and vital to the State’s growth ambitions.
This strategic move underscores the State Government’s commitment to unlocking the full tourism potential of Tawau and its neighbouring towns, positioning them for expansion as leading destinations in Sabah’s thriving east coast tourism cluster.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew said this initiative represents an important milestone in improving Sabah’s air connectivity, enhancing visitor experience, and supporting the growth of the state’s tourism industry.
“We welcome this timely upgrade of Tawau Airport, which will significantly enhance connectivity to Sabah’s east coast. This upgrade comes at the right time to support increasing tourist arrivals and to provide visitors with a much-improved travel experience.
“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this project will bring to local communities and Sabah’s economy as a whole. The Ministry also extends its gratitude to the Tawau Airport management and all the airlines currently flying into Tawau - Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Batik Air, Firefly, and MasWings.
“Their continuous support ensures reliable connectivity and plays a vital role in promoting Sabah,” she said in a statement on Friday.
Liew, the former MP for Tawau (2018-2022), added that KePKAS looks forward to working closely with federal agencies, airlines, and industry partners to maximise the potential of the upgraded airport and ensure Sabah continues to thrive as a premier Culture, Adventure, and Nature (CAN) destination.
The Minister stressed that Tawau Airport serves as the primary gateway to Sabah’s east coast, connecting visitors to world-renowned destinations such as Semporna and Sipadan.
Citing statistics, Liew said that in recent years, the airport has operated beyond its intended design capacity of 1.5 million passengers annually, recording 1.71 million passenger movements in 2023.
“The airport currently receives 158 scheduled flights weekly, offering a total seat capacity of 28,185, which translates into potential arrivals of more than 110,000 passengers every month.
“Domestic connectivity includes routes from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Johor Bahru. Internationally, Tawau welcomed charter flights from Nanjing and Guangzhou, China last year,” she said.
Figures released by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) indicate that overall, from January to July 2025, Sabah recorded 2,119,813 visitor arrivals, an increase of 20.3pc compared to 1,761,651 arrivals during the same period in 2024.
“This strong growth highlights the importance of Tawau as one of Sabah’s busiest entry points and a key driver of tourism development in the east coast region,” Liew added.
