KOTA KINABALU: Bruneians emerged as the top international arrivals to Sabah last year, said state Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew.
As of October last year, the Sabah Tourism Board website indicated approximately 186,400 arrivals from Brunei.
There are seven weekly flights between Brunei and Kota Kinabalu, offering a total of 1,050 seats.
"Bruneians contributed significantly to the highest international arrivals in 2023, particularly from November to December.
"The positive impact of the new Temburong bridge and Pan Borneo Highway has played a crucial role in boosting inbound tourism from Brunei," Liew said after the Sabah Tourism Appreciation Night for tourism players recently.
Until October, South Korea ranked second in tourist arrivals to Sabah, with approximately 165,000 visitors, followed by China with about 57,200 arrivals.
Liew mentioned that 63 out of the 87 flights from China have been reinstated by October last year.
"That is already more than half, and I would like to thank the airlines for ensuring accessibility on this route.
"I also express gratitude to key agents contributing to this success.
"However, there is still potential to further tap into the Chinese market for more arrivals, potentially exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
"A big thank you, too, to the Korean airlines and agents. Korea rebounded quickly with direct flights and a good load factor."
Liew also acknowledged the contribution of Chinese tour and travel agencies, including Shenzhen Huangma International Travel, Asian World International Travel, Lazy Cat Travel Agencies, and Alibaba Travel, towards Sabah's tourism growth in 2023.
Meanwhile, Liew said the Sabah Tourism Board would organise a dialogue with tourism players in the first quarter of the year.
