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2 clusters · 3 sources · 17 days · First seen · Last updated

Sabah tourism growth and connectivity

Overview

Tourism in Sabah has shown significant growth through the first eight months of 2026. During the first seven months, the state recorded a 25.5 per cent surge in arrivals from China, totaling 484,699 visitors. To support this demand, Xiamen Airlines scheduled the resumption of direct flights between Xiamen and Kota Kinabalu for late September 2026.

By the end of August 2026, total visitor arrivals reached 2.6 million, a 4.1 per cent increase compared to the previous year. This figure comprises 1.1 million international visitors and 1.5 million domestic travelers. China remains the primary international market with 578,681 arrivals, while other growth was noted from Singapore, Australia, Europe, Japan, Italy, and Spain. Chief Minister Hajiji Noor noted that while trends are positive, improving air connectivity and addressing airfare and flight availability remain essential challenges.

Entities

Sabah Tourism Board · Sabah · Xiamen Airlines · Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association · China

Timeline

  1. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Sabah tourism arrivals grow 4.1% to 2.6 million

    Sabah saw 2.6 million visitor arrivals in the first eight months of 2026, a 4.1% increase driven by China and domestic markets, though air connectivity remains a challenge.

  2. [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Sabah sees 25.5% surge in Chinese tourist arrivals

    Sabah reports a 25.5% rise in Chinese tourist arrivals for the first seven months of 2026, supported by the resumption of Xiamen–Kota Kinabalu direct flights by Xiamen Airlines.

Sources

sabahnews.com.my · sayangsabah.com.my · tvsabahnews.com