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 interest internationally. Meanwhile, Joniston welcomed Sail Malaysia’s focus on CoBT, noting that it aligns with the state government’s efforts to strengthen rural and community-driven tourism while ensuring benefits reach local communities. He added that the CoBT emphasis complements Sabah’s broader tourism promotion under the Explore Sabah narrative in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026. Joniston encouraged Sail Malaysia to work closely with STB to identify suitable CoBT locations and develop targeted promotional efforts to highlight Sabah’s community tourism offerings. He also welcomed efforts to introduce new docking points and advised Sail Malaysia to identify potential safe harbours for further consideration by the relevant authorities.

Source: The Star January 21, 2026 23:47 UTC