Sabah: 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.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor announced that 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. This initiative aims to attract tourists to Sabah by enhancing tourism products, aligning with the Malaysian government’s commitment to the 2026 Visit Malaysia Year campaign, which targets over 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,” Chief Minister Hajiji Noor stated in a press release.

The statement was distributed to the media following the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Sabah Cultural Complex in Kinarut. The Chief Minister urged industry players to explore new ideas to produce attractive tourism products to ensure Sabah remains a preferred destination for tourists.

The Sabah Cultural Complex will feature two main components: the Cultural Village and the Cultural Centre. This complex will complement 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.