Kota Kinabalu: As part of promoting the Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026) campaign, Tourism Malaysia Sabah has organised a Chinese New Year celebration at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA), welcoming both domestic and international tourists arriving in Sabah.
Tourism Malaysia said in a statement that during the celebration, they and distinguished guests presented mandarin oranges and souvenirs to tourists at the domestic and international arrival gates.
The highlight of the event continued with the Yee Sang tossing ceremony, a traditional Chinese dish that symbolises wealth, prosperity, happiness and success.
Tourists were then captivated by the sights and sounds of Malaysian traditional dances, followed by an energetic lion dance, a hallmark of Chinese New Year festivities.
Also in attendance were Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah, along with Jefry Ramli, KKIA’s Senior Airport Manager, Bobby Alex @ William, Marketing Manager of Sabah Tourism Board, as well as representatives from airlines and related agencies.
In addition to KKIA, similar welcoming events for tourists were also held at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, Penang; and Kuching International Airport in Sarawak.
In 2024, Malaysia recorded a total of 38 million visitor arrivals, a 31.1% increase compared to the same period in 2023, Tourism Malaysia said further.
Tourism receipts for 2024 reached RM102.2 billion, a 50% increase from the RM74.3 billion recorded in 2023, surpassing prepandemic levels by 25.3%.
China is one of the top tourist-generating markets for international arrivals in Malaysia.
Following a 30-day visa exemption implemented under the Visa Liberalisation Plan starting in December 2023, arrivals from China saw a nearly 3,000% surge, with 4.1 million visitors recorded.
