# Sabah Tourism Rises 4.1% Despite Slump Concerns

> Sabah tourism grew 4.1% in first eight months of 2026, beating slump fears with strong international and domestic visitor gains.
- Title: Sabah Tourism Rises 4.1% Despite Slump Concerns · Malay Mail
- Summary: Sabah tourism grew 4.1% in first eight months of 2026, beating slump fears with strong international and domestic visitor gains. Sabah tourist arrivals rose…
- Keywords: sabah tourism, matta fair, visit sabah 2027, international tourism, domestic tourism, tourism arrivals, sabah tourism board, malaysia aviation group, news, world, Sabah, Tourism
- Source: Malay Mail — https://malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/09/20/sabah-tourism-bucks-the-slump-talk-with-41pc-rise/235817
- Published: 2026-09-20T09:01:10+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: sabah tourism, matta fair, visit sabah 2027, international tourism, domestic tourism, tourism arrivals, sabah tourism board, malaysia aviation group, news, world
## Sabah Tourism Grows
Tourist arrivals in Sabah increased by 4.1% from January to August 2026, defying slump concerns.

> The talk that Sabah’s tourism is declining is not true at all
## International and Domestic Growth
International arrivals rose 6.9% while domestic visitors grew 2.1% compared to last year.
## Matta Fair Boosts Tourism
The Matta Fair in Sabah attracted 83 travel-related booths and aims to promote tourism for Visit Sabah 2027.
## Visit Sabah 2027 Plans
Sabah plans to release a full calendar for Visit Sabah 2027 in November 2026, with international promotion underway.
## Tourism Promotion Efforts
State Tourism Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin is promoting Sabah’s tourism sector in China to attract international visitors.
## Matta Fair Targets
This year’s Matta Fair aims for 30,000 visitors and RM28 million in sales, up from 37,499 visitors and RM24 million last year.
## Tourism Partnerships
Sabah Tourism Board, RHB Bank, and Malaysia Aviation Group are key partners in promoting Sabah’s tourism industry.
## Key takeaway

Sabah tourist arrivals rose 4.1% from January to August 2026, with international visitors up 6.9% and domestic visitors up 2.1%.