KOTA KINABALU: Sabah offers peninsular Malaysians a reason to explore budget-friendly vacation options, given the increasing expense of international travel.
State Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said that choosing Sabah as a holiday destination is not only affordable but also crucial in fostering national integration.
"Travellers from Peninsular Malaysia not only get to explore a new destination within Malaysia but also engage in cultural exchange with the local communities and foster a deeper sense of unity and understanding among Malaysians," he said in a statement released here.
Bangkuai spoke to media practitioners at a breaking-fast event hosted by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
Acknowledging the economic concerns, specifically the depreciation of the ringgit, he expressed optimism and stated that the lower ringgit makes Sabah and Malaysia a more accessible tourist destination.
"Choosing to visit Sabah is akin to going overseas, as you will be crossing the South China Sea," he said in jest, adding that it was heartening to note the increasing number of domestic arrivals to Sabah.
The chairman of the Sabah Tourism Board said the shift in travel preferences would help domestic tourism grow and be in line with the state government's Sabah Maju Jaya development plan to boost the state economy.
He also highlighted the importance of reciprocity in promoting national unity, urging Sabahans to embrace cultural exchange with people from other states.
Joniston was leading the Sabah Tourism Board team to the 2024 Matta Fair held at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) from March 22-24.
He thanked the media for promoting Sabah's tourism stories, noting that their efforts contribute to the state's key performance indicators, particularly in terms of arrivals and tourism receipts.
He added, "Your collaborative efforts not only generate ripple effects but also empower local communities and enrich Sabah's tourism landscape."
Sabah exceeded its 2023 tourism target of 2.2 million visitors with 2.6 million visits and RM5.5 billion in tourism revenue.
Between January and December 2023, Sabah recorded 1,754,797 domestic visitors, while international arrivals were 858,475.
Statistics from the Sabah Tourism Board show that in the first two months of this year, Sabah had 300,990 domestic and 231,237 foreign tourists.
Sabah recorded a higher number of foreign arrivals (141,887) from Northeast Asia, which includes China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea.
This was followed by 64,958 visitors from Southeast Asia, including Brunei, the Philippines, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
China has the most tourists coming to Sabah (91,936), followed by South Korea (42,653) and Brunei (36,066).
