Kaamatan Welcome at KKIA Sparks Festive Tourism Push, says Director Mohd Amirul

30 May 2026

KOTA KINABALU: A vibrant Kaamatan welcome at Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) today showcased how cultural celebration can drive tourism, says Mohd Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia.

“Today’s Kaamatan welcome held at KKIA, showcased a tourism attraction that highlighted the festive atmosphere,” Mohd Amirul told reporters.

“It did not only take place in Kota Kinabalu, tomorrow we will also be holding simultaneous Kaamatan and Gawai celebrations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport."

" On 1 June we will host another event at Kuching International Airport to mark Gawai, in the same spirit as today.”

Mohd Amirul explained the purpose behind the airport activations, to give arriving visitors an immediate, memorable taste of Malaysia’s festive culture.

“The purpose of today is to welcome travellers during the festive season so they see these celebrations as unique experiences they cannot find in their own countries,” he said.

“For example, an Indian tourist travelled here specifically to see Sabah’s culture. Tomorrow he will go to KDCA to witness the main festivities in Sabah firsthand.”

The director highlighted the role of local communities in presenting Malaysia’s cultural mosaic.

“We celebrate together with local communities because Malaysia is well known for its rich and distinctive cultural diversity,” he said.

“That is why we always promote Malaysia through our people, communities from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, with their various ethnic traditions.”

He added that the airport festivities are part of a wider calendar. “The airport celebrations are not limited to Kaamatan and Gawai; recently we also marked Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Chinese New Year and others. These events are organised together with the State Government, the Sabah Tourism Board, the airport management and other partners.”

When asked about the scale of the operation, Mohd Amirul provided figures and logistics.

“The celebration we are marking today involves nearly 1,930 people and more,” he said. “Flights will continue to arrive into the night and we will keep welcoming them; there are usually international arrivals around midnight. Tomorrow there will be many visitors who will not only look at Sabah’s tourism offerings but, as I said, will also go to KDCA to see how the celebrations are held.”

Mohd Amirul closed with a nod to the long-term value of such activations. “This is an annual programme by Tourism Malaysia. Although these welcome activities may appear to be a gimmick, they have a real impact on travellers,” he observed.

“Some visitors do not initially know why we are celebrating today, so they ask the guides who are greeting them. In that way, those unaware learn about the festival. Others arrive specifically for the celebration, and hotels are fully booked. I was told earlier that rooms are sold out. This is a positive outcome for tourism and for Sabah’s local economy.”

The airport celebrations combine cultural performances, interactive displays and tourist information to create an immediate connection between visitors and Malaysia’s living traditions, reinforcing Tourism Malaysia’s wider aims to boost arrivals and promote authentic cultural experiences.