KOTA KINABALU: The Chinese New Year (CNY) festivities brought a lively atmosphere to Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) as Tourism Malaysia hosted a series of fun-filled events to mark the occasion, welcoming both airport staff and passengers yesterday.
Tourism Malaysia Sabah director Haryanty Abu Bakar said the initiative aimed to offer travellers a unique experience while promoting Malaysia's cultural diversity, especially as the country gears up for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VM2026) campaign.
"Today (yesterday), we anticipate the arrival of approximately 5,039 passengers in Kota Kinabalu from morning until evening.
"As part of this celebration, we are distributing mandarin oranges to arriving travellers to enhance the festive atmosphere of Chinese New Year.
"In addition, we are showcasing cultural performances, including the lion dance, as a way to highlight Malaysia's rich and diverse cultural heritage.
"Earlier, you also witnessed the 'yee sang' ceremony, which is another symbolic tradition of the Chinese New Year celebration," she said when met at the airport.
As of around noon, approximately 1,200 passengers had arrived and received mandarin oranges, which were met with enthusiastic responses, she said.
Tourism Malaysia Sabah collaborated with various stakeholders, including KKIA Senior Airport Manager Jefry Ramli, Sabah Tourism Board Marketing Manager Bobby Alex @ William, as well as representatives from airlines and related agencies.
The Chinese New Year celebration at KKIA was part of a larger nationwide effort, with similar welcoming events held at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA-1 and KLIA-2), Penang International Airport, and Kuching International Airport.
Malaysia's tourism industry has shown remarkable growth in recent years.
In 2024, the country recorded 38 million visitor arrivals, marking a 31.1 per cent increase compared to 2023, with tourism receipts reaching RM102.2 billion, surpassing pre-pandemic levels by 25.3 per cent.
China remains a key tourist-generating market, particularly following the implementation of a 30-day visa exemption under the Visa Liberalisation Plan in December 2023.
Since then, Chinese tourist arrivals have surged nearly 3,000 per cent, totalling 4.1 million visitors.