Sabah Boosts Tourism Industry Through Preservation Of Cultural Heritage, Environment

PAPAR,  Jan 25  (Bernama) -- The Sabah government will intensify efforts to improve the preservation of cultural heritage and environmental management to drive and empower the tourism industry in the state.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said RM102.87 million has been allocated to the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment to operate and implement various programmes and development projects this year.

He said the effort to attract tourists to Sabah by improving tourism products is in line with the Malaysian government's commitment to ensure the success of the 2026 Visit Malaysia Year campaign which targets more than 35 million tourists.

"Sabah is targeting 3.7 million tourists (this year), but in preparation for TMM 2026, we must be ready to receive more tourists. Therefore, industry players must be ready and more creative to add new tourism products.

"The state's tourism industry needs more new products that can attract tourists from within and outside the country considering that Sabah has various tourism resources that can be diversified, whether those based on flora and fauna or the state's cultural treasures and ethnic heritage," he said.

He said this in a statement distributed to the media after officiating the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Sabah Cultural Complex in Kinarut here today.

Hajiji calls on industry players to explore new ideas to produce attractive tourism products to ensure  Sabah remains a preferred destination for tourists.

The Sabah Cultural Complex involves the construction of two main components namely the Cultural Village and the Cultural Centre.

He said the complex will complement the existing cultural centres in the state including the Hongkod Koisaan Cultural Centre, Kadazan Dusun Cultural Association, Rumpun Bajau Sama Sabah Cultural Centre, and the Murut Tenom Cultural Center.

-- BERNAMA