Kota kinabalu: The Sabah government, through the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KepKAS), is formulating a comprehensive long-term Sabah Tourism Development Plan that is expected to be completed before the end of the year. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor stated the plan aims to chart a new direction for the state's tourism industry by setting clear strategic guidance, addressing sustainability issues, and establishing a development framework that surpasses previous tourism master plans.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the initiative will support Sabah's preparations for Visit Malaysia Year and Visit Sabah Year 2027, reinforcing the state's position as a leading tourism destination. With various current programmes, Sabah is on track to achieve its target of four million visitor arrivals for Visit Malaysia Year and to prepare for Visit Sabah Year 2027. Last year, Sabah recorded 3.79 million visitor arrivals, a 20.8 percent increase from the previous year, generating RM8.74 billion in tourism receipts and creating nearly 400,000 job opportunities.
Hajiji emphasized that despite external factors affecting the tourism sector, KepKAS is committed to balancing economic growth with sustainability. This includes strengthening collaboration between the government, private sector, and local communities, and leveraging digital innovation to build a resilient and high-value tourism industry.
Developments like the Hilton Garden Inn support key pillars of Sabah's tourism growth strategy, including expanding premium and sustainable accommodation options, creating employment opportunities, enhancing skills development among residents, and promoting responsible tourism practices. The opening of the Sheraton Kota Kinabalu early last month, along with other hotel projects, shows continued investor confidence in Sabah's tourism and hospitality sector.
Hajiji remarked that the Hilton Garden Inn project is part of a broader RM500 million investment commitment, covering current and future Hilton developments in Sabah. Located in Tuaran, his hometown, the property is positioned to become a tourism hub, generating economic benefits for surrounding businesses and communities. The hotel contributes to local economic development through job creation, with the majority of its workforce comprising residents of Tuaran, reflecting a shared vision of developing a high-value and sustainable tourism sector that benefits both the local economy and the community.