Wed Sep 18 15:24:00 UTC 2024: ## Sabah Tourism Booms as Arrivals From China, Brunei, Indonesia, and Philippines Surge
**KOTA KINABALU, Sabah** – Sabah is experiencing a significant surge in tourism, with arrivals from China, Brunei, Indonesia, and the Philippines reaching record highs in the first eight months of 2023.
According to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, the state welcomed a total of 586,501 visitors from these four countries alone, marking a substantial increase compared to the 427,077 arrivals recorded for the entire year of 2022.
Hajiji, speaking at an appreciation ceremony for the Sabah Immigration Department on Wednesday, highlighted the dramatic improvement in foreign tourist arrivals since 2020, particularly from these four nations. He expressed confidence that the upward trend will continue into the year-end, boosting the state’s economy.
“The ease of tourist arrivals, including foreign investors coming to Sabah, has been facilitated by a strong partnership and effective governance between the Sabah state government and the Immigration Department,” he said. “This collaboration ensures a seamless immigration process.”
Hajiji attributed the rise in tourist arrivals to the government’s commitment to creating a conducive and business-friendly environment, citing the ease of entry facilitated by travel passes.
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by the Immigration Department due to Sabah’s size and its proximity to several nations, including the soon-to-be-built Indonesian capital Nusantara. To address these challenges, Hajiji announced the approval of two new Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complexes in Sabah, strengthening cross-border security.
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