Rising popularity of OCEANMAN draws international competitors

8 March 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Participation in this year's OCEANMAN is expected to more than triple compared to last year, reflecting the event's growing appeal among international open water swimmers.

Scheduled for 19-20 July in Kota Kinabalu, the competition will welcome athletes from Indonesia, Taiwan, Kazakhstan, India, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, and other countries.

OCEANMAN Malaysia Event Director Azura Zainol Abidin stated that the event is poised for significant growth from last year's 180 participants, with more swimmers registering as the sign-up period remains open.

The Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, officially launched OCEANMAN 2025, supported by the Sabah Tourism Board, at the recently concluded International Exchange Tourism (ITB Berlin).

He remarked that hosting international events like OCEANMAN not only promotes sports tourism but also showcases Sabah's world-class natural assets, demonstrating that the state is capable of delivering exceptional global experiences.

"Sabah is more than just a travel destination. It is a playground for adventurers, a training ground for athletes, and a stage for world-class competitions," Joniston said.

He further emphasised that events of this scale help to strengthen Sabah's reputation while supporting the local economy, benefiting hotels, restaurants, transport services, and small businesses.

Additionally, he noted that hosting large-scale events aligns with Sabah's goal of attracting 3.3 million tourist arrivals this year.

Joniston led the Sabah Tourism Board delegation to ITB Berlin, accompanied by Alesia Sion, Deputy Permanent Secretary II of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, and Julinus Jeffery Jimit, Chief Executive Officer of the Sabah Tourism Board.