
Over 6,000 came to Sabah during Kaamatan
Published on: Mon, Jun 02, 2025
By: Wu Vui Tek Text Size: Tiong and Haryanty (fourth left and right) together with the state tourism association chairmen celebrate the Kaamatan Festival at KKIA. Kota Kinabalu: Travellers trickled into the state's capital to take advantage of the long holidays in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival celebration. Throughout the day, 27 flights arrived at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), bringing visitors from Seoul, Taipei, Singapore, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and destinations across Malaysia. 'These included an estimated 930 international and 4,933 domestic travellers, all of whom were welcomed with festive cheer and cultural experiences upon arrival,' said Tourism Malaysia Sabah Director Haryanty Abu Bakar at KKIA here. 'Malaysia celebrates the long weekend, starting with the festival of Kaamatan, Gawai, and also the birthday of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. 'We celebrate with the cultural diversity of Sabah, including the Magunatip dance performance and sampling of traditional cuisines for the guests,' said Haryanty. The arriving travellers were presented with goodie bags as part of the campaign to promote Visit Malaysia Year (VMY) 2026. Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who was among those arriving, performed the beating of a gong and witnessed a symbolic winnowing of rice. The winnowing was performed by Haryanty, KKIA Senior Airport Manager Jefry Ramli, Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Marketing Manager Bobby Alex, MATTA Sabah Deputy Chairman Alex Chong, Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) Sabah Chairman Vincent Sia, MyBHA Sabah Chairman Harold Chung, and Sabah Tourist Association (STA) Chairman Melanie Chu. Similar activities were held during Chinese New Year and Hari Raya, which also coincided with long holidays and contributed to the increase in arrivals during the holiday season, said Haryanty. She said Tourism Malaysia is collaborating with STB and the Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment to encourage domestic tourism, not only focusing on Kota Kinabalu but also expanding to Kota Marudu, Kudat, and other attractive destinations. In addition, she said Sabah is also rich in cultural diversity, where festivals such as Kaamatan are also among the attractions to boost domestic tourism. She said the preparation for VMY 2026 is not only limited to physical tourism, but also on encouraging tourists to get to know the products and packages offered through online platforms. One of them is the cooperation between Tourism Malaysia and Sabahtravel.com to offer special packages throughout the year to promote Malaysia digitally. The promotion campaign starts from April 2025 until February 2026 and will continue to enable tourists to access interesting packages via the digital platform, she said. According to statistics, she said the number of tourists will increase due to the rise in the number of flights. 'We hope that the number of international flights to Kota Kinabalu will increase,' she said. Malaysia's tourism sector continues to experience strong recovery and growth. In 2024, Malaysia welcomed 38 million international visitors – a 31.1 per cent increase from 2023 and 8.3 per cent above pre-pandemic 2019 levels. Visitor receipts also surged, generating RM106.78 billion, reflecting a substantial 43.7 per cent growth over 2023 and exceeding 2019 figures by 20 per cent. This positive trend has continued into early 2025, with the first four months recording 13.4 million visitor arrivals – a 21.0 per cent year-on-year increase. The top ten visitor-generating markets from January to April were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, India, Brunei, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, and the United Kingdom. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Direct flights between Pontianak, Kuching and KL to boost tourism, economic ties
Azizul delivers his speech during the launch of AirAsia's flight routes between Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and Pontianak. — Photo by Kentigern Minggu PONTIANAK (July 27): The resumption of direct flights between Pontianak and the Malaysian cities of Kuching and Kuala Lumpur is set to boost visitor arrivals, especially from West Kalimantan to Sarawak and Malaysia's capital, said Malaysian Consul in Pontianak, Azizul Zekri Abd Rahim. Speaking at the launch of AirAsia's flight routes between Kuching, Kuala Lumpur and Pontianak, held in conjunction with the Sarawak Travel Fair 2025 at Ayani Megamall here yesterday, he said the reinstated services would not only boost tourism, but also strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries. 'In addition to tourism, it will also facilitate access to educational and healthcare services in Malaysia, especially in Sarawak,' he said. Azizul added that the initiative aligns well with Visit Malaysia Year 2026, during which a wide range of tourism, education, and cultural programmes are expected to take place across the country. 'Last year alone, some 500,000 West Kalimantan residents entered Sarawak via land, while nearly 400,000 Malaysians travelled to West Kalimantan through the same means. 'This clearly demonstrates the strong tourism, education, and trade potential between Sarawak and West Kalimantan — a potential that will only grow stronger with improved flight connectivity,' he remarked. He noted that Sarawak and West Kalimantan share the longest land border between Malaysia and Indonesia, stretching approximately 900 kilometres. 'West Kalimantan is the only Indonesian province with the highest number of land entry points into Malaysia. These include the Tebedu–Entikong, Biawak–Aruk, and Lubok Antu–Nanga Badau crossings,' he said. Meanwhile, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) marketing director Barbara Benjamin Atan said the Sarawak Travel Fair 2025, held from July 25 to 27, aims to promote tourism, healthcare, and education ties between Sarawak and West Kalimantan. She said the event reinforces Sarawak's image as a trusted tourism partner committed to long-term collaboration, marked by the participation of over 40 delegates from Sarawak. 'STB remains committed to working closely with industry partners in West Kalimantan. We believe that with shared commitment, mutual trust and strong communication, we can build a sustainable tourism relationship that benefits both regions,' she added. Airasia Azizul Zekri Abd Rahim direct flights flight routes tourism


Borneo Post
2 days ago
- Borneo Post
Bookings now open for AirAsia's new routes to Pontianak from Kuching, KL
Ria (front, fourth left) in a group photo with other distinguished guests during the launch of AirAsia's new travel routes in West Kalimantan. — Photo by Kentigern Minggu PONTIANAK (July 26): AirAsia's new flight routes between Kuching and Pontianak, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Pontianak, are now open for bookings from today until August 3, 2025, for travel between September 12, 2025 and March 28, 2026. Flights from Kuching to Pontianak are available from as low as RM149 one-way, while flights from Pontianak to Kuching start from IDR467,371. Meanwhile, flights from Kuala Lumpur to Pontianak start at RM159 one-way, with return flights from Pontianak priced from IDR499,000. According to West Kalimantan Governor Drs H Ria Norsan, these new routes serve the interests of all three cities as they not only facilitate easier access for travellers, but also boost trade, investment and tourism flows. 'West Kalimantan stands ready to welcome more Malaysian visitors, while providing convenient access for Indonesians seeking business opportunities, leisure travel and medical services in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur,' he said when launching the AirAsia flight routes in conjunction with the Sarawak Travel Fair by Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) at Ayani Megamall here today. He added that the route is especially important as many Indonesians, particularly from Pontianak, seek medical treatment in Kuching, as well as in Penang and Kuala Lumpur. This expansion follows AirAsia's rapid growth in Indonesia, including the recent launch of the Kuala Lumpur–Palembang route in July and the upcoming Kuala Lumpur–Semarang route in September. With the addition of Pontianak, AirAsia Malaysia will serve a total of 17 destinations in Indonesia, operating 223 weekly flights between Malaysia and Indonesia, solidifying its position as the airline with the widest network serving the archipelago. The launch of these routes also enhances regional connectivity and supports both governments' tourism targets, Malaysia's goal of attracting 4.3 million Indonesian visitors in 2025, and Sarawak's target of five million visitor arrivals by year-end. It also contributes to Indonesia's national goal of recording 16 million international tourist arrivals, with Malaysia remaining one of its top source markets. In March 2020, the flights between Kuching and Pontianak, as well as Kuala Lumpur and Pontianak, were fully suspended, following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, compounded by the temporary reclassification of Supadio Airport to domestic status. This year, the route has resumed following the reinstatement of Supadio Airport in Pontianak as an international airport, as stated by Sarawak Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin in a recent statement. Previously, former Consul-General of the Republic of Indonesia in Kuching, Raden Sigit Witjaksono, had commented that direct flights between Kuching and Pontianak would greatly benefit both regions—particularly in view of Indonesia's capital relocation from Jakarta to Nusantara in East Kalimantan. Lee also acknowledged Raden's vital role, noting that his support and coordination were instrumental in the route's reinstatement. Bookings are now available on the AirAsia MOVE app and at Also present at the event were Consul of Malaysia in Pontianak Azizul Zekri Abd Rahim, STB's marketing director Barbara Benjamin Atan, AirAsia's head of commercial Liyana Mahizzan, and other distinguished guests. Airasia bookings kuala lumpur Kuching lead Pontianak flights


The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Queen opens inaugural Borneo Flora Festival 2025 in Labuan
LABUAN: Her Majesty Raja Zarith Sofiah, Queen of Malaysia, officially opened the inaugural Borneo Flora Festival 2025 at the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex today. The event, themed 'Borneo Tropical Flora', highlighted the region's rich floral and cultural heritage through vibrant performances and exhibitions. The festival began with a lively showcase of traditional dances, including the Magunatip, a rhythmic bamboo dance performed by the Murut community of Sabah. The cultural performances set a festive tone, drawing visitors from across Malaysia and beyond. Accompanied by dignitaries such as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa and Sarawak Governor's wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Her Majesty toured intricately designed gardens crafted by government agencies, NGOs, and local communities. These exhibits celebrated Borneo's biodiversity and cultural landscapes. A special moment occurred when Her Majesty was presented with a rare black orchid from Sabah, symbolising the region's unique botanical treasures. The festival, organised by the Department of Federal Territories (JWP), aims to boost Labuan's eco-tourism and socio-economic growth. Thousands of native and exotic floral species, including rare orchids and pitcher plants, were displayed, attracting gardening enthusiasts and families. Tomorrow, Her Majesty will officiate the opening of the new Labuan Handicraft Gallery, further promoting local artisans. The Borneo Flora Festival 2025 is set to become an annual highlight, reinforcing Labuan's transformation into a sustainable and inclusive tourism destination. - Bernama