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KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Community-Based Tourism (CoBT) will be a key feature of the Sail Malaysia Passage to the East Yacht Rally 2026, reflecting growing international interest, according to organisers.

The focus was outlined by Sail Malaysia Managing Director Sazli Kamal Basha during a briefing to Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai on Tuesday on plans for the upcoming sailing season.

Sazli said the rally, scheduled to be in Sabah in July and involving sailors from around the world, is placing greater emphasis on CoBT as repeat participants increasingly seek authentic experiences and closer engagement with local communities.

He said 15 participants had registered as of Tuesday, compared with about 10 at the same stage in previous years, and added that Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) is being considered as a potential new docking site alongside proposals for a “safe harbours” agenda to enhance accessibility and convenience for visiting yachts.

Joniston welcomed the CoBT focus as aligned with the state government’s efforts to strengthen rural and community-driven tourism under the Explore Sabah narrative in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM26), encouraged close collaboration with STB to identify suitable locations, supported the introduction of new docking points and safe harbours, and noted an invitation for Sabah to participate in the 2026 Malaysia International Boat Show.