SANDAKA, SABAH, Oct 19, 2025 – Kampung Bambangan in Batu Sapi, Sandakan, Sabah has officially become the first Community-Based Tourism (CoBT) destination in the district, following its launch by Datuk Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for P.185 Batu Sapi.
This initiative is managed by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) through the Malaysia Homestay Experience Programme (PPHM). Local residents not only provide accommodation facilities but also introduce authentic village life experiences to tourists, including fishing activities, river cruises along the waterways, and visits to soft-shell crab farms, which serve as the main attractions.
The program’s outstanding performance is reflected in Sabah’s records for 2024, where the state recorded revenue of RM15.1 million from PPHM with the presence of 202,053 tourists. As of August 2025, Sabah has logged RM13.1 million in revenue with 161,318 visitors. Currently, Sabah hosts 39 homestay clusters involving 135 villages, 33 kampungstays, 525 participants, and seven active cooperatives—all playing a crucial role in driving the growth of the state’s community tourism economy.
In preparation for Visit Malaysia Year (VM2026), MOTAC has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening community-based tourism in line with MADANI values. This includes providing training support, aggressive promotions, and infrastructure development to enhance the competitiveness of rural tourism and ensure more equitable economic benefits for local communities.
The conferment of CoBT status is expected to attract more domestic and international tourists to Kampung Bambangan while preserving Sabah’s rich cultural heritage and natural environment.
