By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry in collaboration with the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), has published the Sabah Regional Tourism Satellite Account (RTSA) 2024, also known as the Regional Tourism Satellite Account Sabah 2024.
Based on data released by DOSM, its Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the state’s tourism industry recorded growth of 4.2 per cent in 2024 (2023: 4.5 per cent), reaching RM13.7 billion, and contributed 12.0 per cent to Sabah’s economy, an increase from 11.7 per cent in 2023.
He added that Sabah’s Tourism Direct Gross Domestic Product (TDGDP) grew by 4.5 per cent, amounting to RM5.2 billion, contributing to the state’s overall GDP in 2024.
The strong performance of Sabah’s tourism industry was supported by growth across several economic activities. Retail trade increased by 3.2 per cent compared with 2023 (2023: 0.6 per cent), while accommodation and food and beverage services rose by 3.5 per cent.
In terms of contribution, retail trade remained the largest contributor at 47.3 per cent, followed by accommodation and food and beverage services at 29.7 per cent.
Meanwhile, travel agencies and other reservation services, cultural, sports and recreational services, and other tourism-related specialised services contributed 13.5 per cent.
Passenger transport services and retail sales of automotive fuel also recorded growth, contributing 9.5 per cent.
According to the findings of the Sabah RTSA 2024, Jafry said the tourism industry provided employment to 387,600 people, representing a growth of 6.9 per cent compared with 2023.
The retail trade sector (contribution: 44.5 per cent) and accommodation and food and beverage services (contribution: 41.6 per cent) were the main contributors to tourism employment, with a combined share of 86.1 per cent in 2024.
Overall, tourism employment accounted for 22.6 per cent, or nearly a quarter, of Sabah’s total workforce.
The Sabah RTSA is a strategic collaboration with the Department of Statistics Malaysia. This publication marks the third edition produced for the Sabah Government.
Jafry said the data were inclusive, integrated and comprehensive, and that the RTSA findings provided industry players across downstream sectors, including SMEs and service providers such as accommodation operators, restaurants, transport services and retail businesses, with a clear indicator for business planning.
At the same time, he said the data were crucial for the Sabah State Government in assessing tourism performance and served as an important reference in policy formulation to further stimulate tourism activities in the state.
Jafry said the strong performance of Sabah’s tourism industry was supported by growth across several economic activities.
