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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah marked the official launch of Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) on Thursday by welcoming the first arriving visitors at key entry points, led by the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), in coordination with the State Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry (Kepkas) and Tourism Malaysia.

The coordinated nationwide welcome took place simultaneously at 55 major gateways across all 13 states, including international airports, ferry terminals and major land transport hubs, underscoring a unified national start to the campaign.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin personally greeted arriving visitors at KKIA, reflecting Sabah’s emphasis on destination readiness, visitor experience and tourism governance anchored in local strengths.

In Sabah, the programme covered five locations — KKIA, Sandakan Airport, Tawau Airport, Lahad Datu Airport and the Tawau Ferry Terminal — with the state ministry working alongside relevant agencies and tourism industry players.

Jafry said VM2026 was not merely a promotional exercise but a national coordination framework, with the Sabah launch serving as an early assessment of preparedness in infrastructure, hospitality, community participation and environmental sustainability ahead of Visit Sabah 2027.