Sabah Tourism Records 2.12 Million Arrivals in First Seven Months of 2025

30 August 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s tourism sector has continued its strong recovery, recording 2.12 million tourist arrivals between January and July 2025, an increase of 20.3 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew shared the encouraging figures during her speech at the 30th anniversary celebration of the Hwaxia Zhineng Qigong Sabah Association, held in conjunction with the International Zhineng Qigong Mastery Bootcamp.

She said the arrivals represented 89 per cent of pre-pandemic levels and accounted for 60.6 per cent of the State’s 3.5 million target for 2025.

According to the Sabah Tourism Board (STB), international arrivals stood at 854,648, while domestic arrivals reached 1,265,165. The total tourism receipts for the January–July 2025 period are estimated at RM5 billion, reflecting a 20.5 per cent increase over the same period last year.

China remained Sabah’s largest international source market, contributing 386,217 arrivals, a 47.4 per cent increase compared to 2024. This was followed by Brunei (114,465), South Korea (103,060), the UK and Europe (54,765, up 28.3 per cent), and Taiwan (22,620).

On connectivity, Sabah is currently linked to 14 international destinations, supported by 138 weekly flights offering 25,404 seats.

Liew said the strong performance underscored Sabah’s growing appeal among travellers while reaffirming the State Government’s commitment to strengthening tourism and wellness-related initiatives.

She also praised the Hwaxia Zhineng Qigong Sabah Association for its three decades of promoting health and holistic well-being in the community, noting that its mission complemented the State’s vision of building a healthier and more dynamic society.