TUARAN: The State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, is developing a comprehensive long-term Sabah Tourism Development Plan, which is expected to be completed before the end of this year, said Chief Minister Hajiji Noor.
He said the action plan would establish a new direction for the growth of the tourism sector with clear objectives, address sustainability issues and challenges such as air connectivity, reflect the aspirations of local communities, and provide a development framework that goes beyond previous tourism master plans.
“With the various programmes currently being implemented, I am confident that Sabah is on the right track to achieve the target of four million visitor arrivals in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, while preparing for Visit Sabah 2027.
“Last year, Sabah recorded an encouraging performance with 3.79 million visitor arrivals, an increase of 20.8 percent compared to the previous year.
“This achievement generated RM8.74 billion in revenue and created nearly 400,000 job opportunities,” he said during the opening ceremony of Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu Tuaran at Kampung Pulau Simpangan, Kuala Matinggi, here on Sunday.
The Chief Minister also welcomed the fact that Hilton Garden Inn forms part of a larger ongoing investment commitment estimated at around RM500 million, covering this development and future Hilton projects in the area.
“This will further strengthen investor confidence in the state’s tourism and hospitality sector, while supporting the State Government’s continuous efforts to enhance Sabah’s tourism industry.
“More importantly, developments such as this support several key pillars of Sabah’s tourism growth strategy, namely strengthening premium and sustainable accommodation options, creating meaningful employment and skills development opportunities for local residents, empowering community-based enterprises through supply chains, and promoting tourism that respects and preserves the environment,” he said.
Hajiji noted that despite external factors that may affect Sabah’s tourism sector, the State Government, through the Ministry of Tourism, continues to balance sustainability, strengthen collaboration between the government, private sector and local communities, and leverage digital innovation to build a resilient and high-value tourism industry.
“This approach will ensure a balance between economic growth and the preservation of the environment and culture,” he added.
He expressed confidence that the presence of the Hilton brand would further strengthen Sabah’s position as a preferred tourism destination not only in Malaysia but also regionally and globally.
According to him, the opening of Sheraton Kota Kinabalu last month, together with upcoming or ongoing hotel developments such as Avani, Fairfield by Marriott, Club Med, InterContinental, and Wyndham, sends a clear signal that Sabah remains a competitive and attractive destination for quality investments, particularly in tourism and hospitality.
“It also demonstrates the resilience and confidence of our industry partners despite current uncertainties,” he said.
Hajiji was pleased that the property now being redeveloped as Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu is located in his hometown of Tuaran, a district that has experienced rapid growth and development over the years.
“With its strategic location and abundant natural attractions, this district has tremendous potential for further growth, particularly as a tourism hub. Developments such as this will complement existing attractions in Tuaran, encourage more visitor arrivals, and benefit surrounding businesses, local entrepreneurs and the community as a whole,” he said.
The Chief Minister also welcomed the direct contribution of Hilton Garden Inn Kota Kinabalu to the local economy through job creation.
“Even more encouraging is the fact that the majority of its workforce comes from Tuaran itself. This is a very positive development as it reflects our shared aspiration to ensure that local communities benefit directly from investments made in their areas.
“Indeed, Hilton Garden Inn represents our shared vision of developing a high-value and sustainable tourism sector that benefits both the economy and local communities,” he said. –pr/BNN
