Sail Malaysia Rally 2026 to Showcase Sabah’s Community Tourism

21 January 2026

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s community-based tourism (CoBT) will be prominently featured during the Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Yacht Rally 2026, underscoring growing international interest in authentic, community-led travel experiences.

The focus on CoBT was highlighted during a briefing by Sail Malaysia Managing Director Sazli Kamal Basha to Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai on Tuesday (20 January), as part of discussions on preparations for the forthcoming sailing season.

The rally, which is scheduled to arrive in Sabah in July, will involve sailors from around the world.

Sazli said the emphasis on community-based tourism reflects strong interest from rally participants, particularly repeat sailors, who are increasingly seeking genuine cultural experiences and closer engagement with local communities.

He added that Sabah continues to be a favoured destination among international sailors, citing positive feedback on its cultural diversity, rural landscapes and opportunities for community interaction.

As at 20 January, Sazli noted that 15 participants had already registered for the rally, compared with approximately 10 at the same stage in previous years, indicating the likelihood of higher participation in 2026.

He also said that Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is being considered as a potential new docking point. In addition, he proposed the development of a “safe harbours” initiative to improve accessibility and convenience for visiting yachts, in support of Sabah’s ambition to further establish itself as a yachting destination.

Joniston welcomed Sail Malaysia’s focus on community-based tourism, noting that it aligns with the state government’s efforts to strengthen rural and community-driven tourism while ensuring that local communities benefit directly.

He added that the CoBT emphasis complements Sabah’s wider tourism promotion under the Explore Sabah narrative in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026.

Joniston encouraged Sail Malaysia to work closely with STB to identify suitable community-based tourism locations and to develop targeted promotional efforts to highlight Sabah’s community tourism offerings. He also welcomed the introduction of new docking points and advised Sail Malaysia to identify potential safe harbours for consideration by the relevant authorities.

During the meeting, Sazli, who is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Malaysia International Boat Show, invited Sabah to participate in the 2026 edition of the show.