Sabah Champions Community-Based Tourism at Inaugural CBT Conference and Expo 2025

28 June 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah took a step forward in redefining the future of sustainable tourism today with the official launch of the Community-Based Tourism (CBT) Conference and Expo 2025.

Officiated by Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew, the event is positioned as the first full-scale event of its kind in the stat.

The conference co-organised by the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) places community-based tourism at the centre of Sabah’s tourism development strategy.

“Community-Based Tourism is more than a tourism model. It is a dynamic movement, it's one that preserves culture, protects nature, and creates economic opportunities for local people,” Liew said in her opening address.

“In a world searching for sustainable and inclusive solutions, Sabah is ready to lead by example.”

The two-day conference serves as a platform to foster collaboration, highlight best practices from Malaysia and abroad, and equip local communities with tools and knowledge to participate meaningfully in the tourism economy.

According to Liew, it marks a strategic milestone in preparing for Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Explore Sabah 2026/2027.

The minister also emphasised the state’s focus for the year: expanding economic opportunities for CBT operators and encouraging innovation to elevate community-led tourism into a more competitive and resilient sector, while staying true to Sabah’s cultural heritage and environmental commitments.

“This is a proud moment for Sabah,” Liew said. “CBT has the power to transform villages, empower families, and showcase authentic experiences that today’s travellers seek.”

As Sabah positions itself as a leader in inclusive tourism, the CBT Conference and Expo 2025 is set to be a catalyst for change, one that invites the world to experience Sabah through m the eyes, voices, and traditions of its communities.

Also present during the event were Assistant Minister of Tourism Culture and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Sabah Tourism Board Chief Executive Officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit.