Global travellers invited to Visit Sabah during VMY2026

Christina (left) being interviewed by Goss at the WTM 2024 in ExCeL London. 

13 November 2024

LONDON: Come and visit Sabah to experience the unique attractions and natural wonders of this "Land Below The Wind," especially as we gear up for Visit Malaysia 2026 (VMY2026).

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Seri Christina Liew said this in her key message to Breaking Travel News' global audience during the recent World Travel Market (WTM) in the United Kingdom.

Speaking with Breaking Travel News video producer Sipphire Goss, Christina shared, "As a Sabahan, I can tell you countless stories about our beautiful state, but nothing compares to the experience of exploring it yourself. Discover our vibrant way of life, immerse yourself in our traditions, enjoy our captivating dances, encounter our incredible wildlife, and savor our delicious cuisine."

"As we are ushering Visit Malaysia 2026, we invite travellers to come and explore Sabah in 2025 and 2026, where you can experience our rich natural heritage, culture, adventure, and nature."

Asked to share any business update, the Minister expressed Sabah's hope to get as many visitors as possible from different countries, especially from the Unuted Kingdom (UK), to come and explore the region. 

"We will present our side of the story for tourism. I believe it will be a very dynamic story. That's why I am leading my team here to capture a share of the UK travel market and to draw potential investors to Sabah.

"While you (visitors) have your leisure tourism in Sabah, you can look into the possibility of investing in the state," she said.

Christina cited Sabah's selling-points such as the 140-million-year-old lowland rainforest (home to the orangutan, Bornean pygmy elephant, clouded leopard, and more), the iconic Mount Kinabalu, world-class diving spot (Sipadan island), and UNESCO world heritage sites.

"We are proud to feature three prestigious UNESCO Triple Crown sites, that is, the Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site, the Crocker Range Biosphere Reserve, and the Kinabalu Global Geopark. 

"This Kinabalu UNESCO Global Geopark is attracting both domestic and international travellers.  Sabah, Malaysia is the third in the world to have the UNESCO Triple Crown status (after South Korea and China as places with three UNESCO titles)," she said.

Answering another question, Christina said Sabah Tourism will be launching "Explore Sabah 2026" in line with Visit Malaysia 2026.

 "On top of that, we also establish collaboration with other countries through travel agents, industry players, and business marketing partners. This way, we are able to expand our horizon not only to certain countries but, if possible, to cover most of the destinations around the world."

UK travellers are particularly drawn to adventure and eco-tourism. Cultural experiences are important to UK visitors, and Sabah can offer authentic interactions through its indigenous communities, local festivals, and culinary

delights.