KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said arrivals to Sabah in the first eight months of this year recorded positive growth of 4.1 per cent compared with the same period last year.
As of August 2026, Sabah recorded 2.6 million visitor arrivals, comprising 1.1 million (43 per cent) international visitors and 1.5 million (57 per cent) domestic visitors.
“These figures clearly show that Sabah continues to be a preferred destination among both domestic and international travellers,” he said at the opening of the Gala Night and Rythms of Kinabalu 2026 at Padang Merdeka on Saturday.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai delivered his speech.
He said China remained Sabah’s main international market, recording 578,681 arrivals in the first eight months of this year.
This was supported by the Singapore, Australia and European markets, while Japan also recorded encouraging growth following a review of its travel advisory, he said.
Meanwhile, arrivals from Italy and Spain in August reflected Sabah’s growing appeal among European travellers, he said.
“These developments give us confidence that Sabah has strong potential to further expand its reach into international markets, particularly with the support of better flight networks and connectivity,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the domestic market, which rose 2.1 per cent, remained an important pillar of the state’s tourism industry.
“Preliminary findings by the Sabah Tourism Board also indicate that interest in Sabah as a tourism destination remains strong,” he said.
However, Hajiji said there were still challenges that needed to be addressed, particularly in relation to airfares and flight availability, which could influence travellers’ decisions to visit Sabah as well as the state’s competitiveness compared with other destinations in the country and the region.
“Therefore, air connectivity must continue to be given close attention so that the full potential of Sabah’s tourism sector can be realised,” he said.
He reiterated his confidence that Sabah could achieve its target of four million visitor arrivals this year.
“We are very proud of the performance of Sabah’s tourism sector, which has now reached about 64 per cent of the target of four million visitors for 2026.
“This achievement provides a strong foundation for us to further build momentum for the remainder of the year. To achieve the target, we need an additional 1.44 million arrivals from September to December this year, or about 361,000 visitors per month on average.
“I believe this target is achievable if the current momentum can be further strengthened through more effective promotions, improved flight connectivity and close cooperation among the Government, industry players and all stakeholders,” he said.
On the Gala Night and Rhythms of Kinabalu 2026, now in its 12th edition, he said it was a good initiative that provided a platform and opportunities for cultural arts practitioners, as well as traditional and contemporary music groups, to showcase works based on Borneo music.
Hajiji said cultural tourism was among the key attractions that could draw more visitors to Sabah.
“Our rich diversity of cultural heritage, customs, arts and traditional food offers visitors a unique experience.
“At the same time, this sector creates economic opportunities for local communities and helps preserve our cultural heritage for future generations.
“Therefore, let us work together to introduce Sabah’s rich cultural heritage to the world while ensuring that its authenticity continues to be preserved,” he said.-pr/BNN
