Sabah’s Sandakan Emerges As Nature Gateway With Proposed Scoot Singapore Direct Route Ahead Of Visit Malaysia 2026

Published on August 17, 2025

Sabah is boosting its recreation entreaty by talking pinch Scoot—Singapore’s fund airline—about a imaginable nonstop formation betwixt Singapore and Sandakan. This way fits into bigger plans to tie much world visitors by utilizing Singapore’s Changi Airport arsenic a cardinal jump-off point. If nan way gets nan greenish light, it will not only nexus Sandakan directly pinch Singapore but will besides go an important extremity for visitors flying to Borneo from astir nan world.

This scheme is being viewed arsenic a smart strategy because Singapore already sends a batch of visitors to Sabah. By concentrating connected Sandakan—known arsenic nan quality superior of nan state—officials want to promote travellers to research beyond nan usually engaged Kota Kinabalu and dispersed nan visitant travel crossed nan remainder of Sabah.

Sandakan: A Gateway to Nature

Sandakan, located connected Sabah’s eastbound coast, is being reintroduced to travellers arsenic much than conscionable a secondary city. Instead, it is being promoted arsenic a gateway to quality and eco-adventure. The region is location to immoderate of Malaysia’s astir treasured conservation centres.

At nan Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, visitors are capable to witnesser orangutans being rehabilitated for merchandise into nan wild. Just nearby, nan Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre houses nan world’s smallest carnivore species, offering a chance to study astir ongoing wildlife protection efforts. Sandakan is besides surrounded by lush rainforest reserves specified arsenic nan Kinabatangan River basin, 1 of Southeast Asia’s richest ecosystems wherever proboscis monkeys, pygmy elephants, and hornbills thrive.

By positioning these attractions astatine nan forefront, Sandakan is being reframed arsenic an eco-tourism hub pinch experiences that entreaty powerfully to Singaporean travellers, galore of whom already show an affinity for quality and wildlife exploration.

Building Momentum for Visit Malaysia Year 2026

Visitor arrivals from Singapore to Sabah person already been encouraging, pinch much than 13,000 recorded by May 2025. The fig is being seen arsenic a affirmative parameter for early growth, particularly successful nan lead-up to Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026). National and authorities tourism bodies are moving to guarantee Sabah is powerfully represented during nan campaign.

Promotional strategies are being developed by Tourism Malaysia Singapore and nan Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS), alongside nan Sabah Tourism Board. The extremity is to grow consciousness among Singaporean travellers that Sabah offers acold much than conscionable Mount Kinabalu aliases Sipadan. With ecotourism, culture, and practice each available, Sabah is being positioned arsenic a destination pinch assortment and depth.

Sabah Fest 2025 – Singapore Edition

A awesome promotional level was staged done nan Sabah Fest 2025 – Singapore Edition, which took spot astatine Marina Square successful Singapore from 15 to 17 August 2025. The show was organised by STTOS and was designed to supply Singaporeans pinch a first-hand preview of Sabah’s rich | culture, tourism, and trade.

The arena featured unrecorded taste performances by nan group Era Budaya, arsenic good arsenic philharmonic renditions by Sabahan creator Dabra Sia. Visitors were besides introduced to locally made products specified arsenic Desa Dairy Farm’s dairy range, Kerupuk Lelek Enterprise’s snacks, and Jetsin Sdn Bhd’s offerings. A typical item was nan committee crippled My First Trip successful Sabah, distributed by Origame successful Singapore, which was showcased arsenic nan first Sabah-themed family game.

The Singapore showcase was meant to make curiosity up of nan month-long Sabah Fest celebrations successful Kota Kinabalu from 30 August to 30 September 2025, which are being organised by nan Sabah Tourism Board’s subsidiary Sri Pelancongan Sabah.

Introducing “Stamp and Feel Sabah”

To further promote engagement, nan “Stamp and Feel Sabah” run was launched during nan festival. The programme allows travellers to cod stamp booklets from Tourism Malaysia’s Singapore office. By visiting listed attractions successful Sabah, visitors tin cod stamps and later redeem rewards astatine nan STTOS agency while stocks last.

This inaugural is being viewed arsenic an innovative measurement to beforehand exploration beyond nan well-known highlights, giving travellers an added inducement to observe different parts of Sabah.

Strengthening Malaysia–Singapore Ties

Sabah Fest 2025 – Singapore Edition was supported by nan Malaysian High Commission successful Singapore. The arena was recognised arsenic being aligned pinch nan ngo to foster bilateral relations done culture, tourism, and trade. By connecting communities done taste experiences, Sabah’s floor plan successful Singapore was raised, and nan arena besides supported nationalist efforts to showcase Malaysia up of VMY2026.

Infrastructure to Support Future Growth

For nan imaginable Singapore–Sandakan way to succeed, infrastructure readiness has been a cardinal consideration. Sandakan Airport has already undergone upgrades, including a runway hold to 2,500 metres, enabling it to accommodate Airbus A320 and A321 aircraft—the models commonly utilized by Scoot. While nary nonstop world routes presently run from Sandakan, nan infrastructure is successful spot to support them.

Meanwhile, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which remains nan superior introduction constituent to Sabah, is undergoing awesome description and modernisation, pinch completion expected successful phases done 2028. These developments guarantee that Sabah will beryllium prepared to grip greater visitant numbers successful nan years ahead.

A Multi-Layered Strategy for Tourism Growth

Sabah is proving that it knows really to build Sandakan into a tourism go-to by moving connected respective fronts astatine once. The authorities is chasing caller flights successful on-budget hose Scoot, getting travellers successful nan temper pinch ideas for illustration nan “Stamp and Feel Sabah” program, and bringing taste highlights to nan shape pinch events for illustration Sabah Fest. As roads and terminals get nan upgrades they need, everything points to 1 target: increasing tourism successful a measurement that lasts.

Sabah is gearing up to invited visitors, particularly folks from Singapore, truthful that they tin genuinely dive into nature, culture, and section businesses. With Visit Malaysia Year 2026 correct astir nan corner, Sandakan is spotlighted arsenic nan go-to spot that perfectly shows disconnected Sabah’s stunning wildlife and vibrant section culture. The scheme is to create experiences that consciousness real, hands-on, and easy to explore, truthful everything from nan rainforest to nan nutrient markets is fresh to stock its story.

[Image Source: Sabah Tourism Official Website]