Sabah tourism arrivals grow 4.1% to 2.6 million

Sabah recorded 2.6 million visitor arrivals during the first eight months of 2026, representing a 4.1 per cent increase compared to the same period last year. Chief Minister Hajiji Noor reported that the total includes 1.1 million international visitors and 1.5 million domestic travelers.

China remains the primary international market for the state, accounting for 578,681 arrivals. Other significant contributors to the growth include markets from Singapore, Australia, and Europe, with notable increases from Japan, Italy, and Spain. The domestic market also saw a 2.1 per cent rise.

Despite the positive trend, the Chief Minister identified challenges regarding airfares and flight availability. He emphasized that improving air connectivity is essential to maintaining competitiveness and fully utilizing the state’s tourism potential.