Latest news with #STTOS
Borneo Post
a day ago
- Borneo Post
Sabah culture takes the stage in Singapore to inspire future visits
Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai checking out Sabah booth with Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Dato' Indera Azfar Mohd Mustafa (right) and STTOS Managing Director Wendy Clare Stephen. SINGAPORE (Aug 17): The sights and sounds of Sabah took centre stage at Marina Square on Saturday, as the Sabah Fest Singapore Edition 2025 brought North Borneo's culture to life through music, dance, food and heritage. Visitors were treated to traditional performances, food products, and craft showcases that highlighted Sabah's diverse ethnic traditions. For Sabahans living in Singapore, it was a moment to reconnect with their roots, while Singaporeans had the opportunity to discover the state's cultural richness for the first time. The event was jointly launched by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Dato' Indera Azfar Mohd Mustafa. In his speech, Joniston called on the Sabah community abroad to play a role in promoting Sabah as a preferred travel destination and strengthening the state's visibility internationally. 'Singapore's position as a regional hub, the most important gateway for international travellers, offers Sabah a strong advantage. 'With direct flights between Singapore and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is more accessible than ever, and we want to leverage this connectivity to attract more visitors to explore Sabah,' he said, adding that more than 13,000 Singaporeans visited Sabah between January and May this year. Joniston, who is also chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, said the event was a perfect introduction for first-time visitors as Sabah prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026 with its own Explore Sabah campaign. He invited both Singaporeans and international travellers to experience Sabah first-hand by visiting Sabah Fest 2025 in Kota Kinabalu next month (Aug 30 – Sept 30). 'For those who discover Sabah through Sabah Fest, we hope it will inspire future trips, because beyond our iconic Mount Kinabalu and Sipadan, Sabah also offers unique experiences in its small towns, villages, gastronomy, and communities.' Both Joniston and Azfar commended the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS) for spearheading Sabah Fest Singapore Edition, with support from Tourism Malaysia Singapore, MATRADE, DESA, Jetsin and travel partners. 'With strong partnerships, strategic connectivity, and the pride of Sabahans worldwide, we are well prepared to welcome more visitors and ensure Sabah shines during Visit Malaysia 2026,' said Joniston. Azfar said the High Commission of Malaysia to Singapore is proud to support Sabah Fest 2025 as it aligns with its mission to foster bilateral ties through cultural exchange, tourism promotion, and economic collaboration. The event on Saturday also marked the introduction of the 'Stamp and Feel Sabah' campaign, a stamp rally programme encouraging Singaporean tourists to explore various destinations across Sabah. Also present were STTOS Managing Director Wendy Clare Stephen and senior officers from Tourism Malaysia and MATRADE.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Daily Express
STB in talks with Scoot for direct Sandakan-Singapore route: Joniston
Published on: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Filepic of Sandakan. - Bernama SINGAPORE: The Sabah Tourism Board (STB), in collaboration with Tourism Malaysia, is in talks with low-cost carrier Scoot to launch direct Singapore–Sandakan route in a move aimed at boosting tourist arrivals from the city-state. Sabah Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment and STB chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, said the route would boost Sabah's visibility among Singaporeans and attract other international travellers to travel through Changi Airport. 'Sabah is not just about Mount Kinabalu or Sipadan, but also Sandakan – a gateway to nature. We have diverse attractions. A lot of Singaporeans love nature, and what better place to visit than Sandakan,' he told Bernama after launching the Sabah Fest 2025 - Singapore Edition, here on Saturday. Joniston expressed hope that travel agents in Singapore would showcase Sabah's wide-ranging attractions, from the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, by introducing exciting travel packages. As of May this year, he said more than 13,000 Singaporeans had visited Sabah, and he hoped the number would continue to increase in line with the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 (VMY2026) campaign. 'Tourism Malaysia Singapore in collaboration with the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS), together with other agencies, are working hard to help promote Sabah,' he added. He also expressed hope that Scoot and AirAsia would consider increasing the frequency of their Singapore-Kota Kinabalu direct flights. Joniston said the three-day Sabah Fest 2025 – Singapore Edition, held at Marina Square from Friday (Aug 15) and organised by STTOS, offers Singaporeans a glimpse of Sabah's culture, tourism and trade ahead of the full-month celebration in the state next month. At the event, Joniston also launched the 'Stamp and Feel Sabah' campaign – a stamp rally programme introduced by STTOS to encourage Singaporean travellers to explore Sabah. Travellers can collect a stamp booklet from Tourism Malaysia's Singapore office, earn stamps by visiting listed attractions, and redeem rewards at the STTOS office while stocks last. Meanwhile, High Commissioner of Malaysia to Singapore Datuk Dr Azfar Mohamad Mustafar said the High Commission is proud to support Sabah Fest 2025 as it aligns with its mission to foster bilateral ties through cultural exchange, tourism promotion, and economic cooperation. 'This event directly supports the VMY2026 promotional campaign by highlighting Sabah's unique cultural and natural attractions to Singapore audiences,' he added. Sabah Fest 2025 - Singapore Edition showcases products from Desa Dairy Farm, Jetsin Sdn Bhd, Kerupuk Lelek Enterprise Sdn Bhd, and Origame, the Singapore distributor for My First Trip in Sabah -- the first Sabah-themed board game. Visitors are also treated to lively cultural performances by a group called Era Budaya and rendition by Sabahan singer Dabra Sia. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Star
2 days ago
- The Star
Sabah Fest Singapore showcases North Borneo culture at Marina Square
KOTA KINABALU: The sights and sounds of Sabah took centre stage at Marina Square on Saturday, as the Sabah Fest Singapore Edition 2025 brought North Borneo's culture to life through music, dance, food, and heritage. Visitors were treated to traditional performances, food products, and craft showcases that highlighted Sabah's diverse ethnic traditions. For Sabahans living in Singapore, it was a moment to reconnect with their roots while Singaporeans had the opportunity to discover the state's cultural richness for the first time. Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Azfar Mohd Mustafa jointly launched the event. In his speech, Bangkuai called on the Sabah community abroad to play a role in promoting the state as a preferred travel destination and strengthening its visibility internationally. He said Singapore's position as a regional hub, the most important gateway for international travellers, offered Sabah a strong advantage. 'With direct flights between Singapore and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah is more accessible than ever, and we want to leverage this connectivity to attract more visitors to explore Sabah," he said, adding that more than 13,000 Singaporeans visited Sabah between January and May this year. The Sabah Tourism Board (STB) chairman then said the event was a perfect introduction for first-time visitors as Sabah prepares for Visit Malaysia 2026 with its own Explore Sabah campaign. Bangkuai then invited both Singaporeans and international travellers to experience Sabah first-hand by visiting Sabah Fest 2025 in Kota Kinabalu next month (Aug 30 - Sept 30). "For those who discover Sabah through Sabah Fest, we hope it will inspire future trips, because beyond Mount Kinabalu and Sipadan, Sabah also offers unique experiences in its small towns, villages, gastronomy, and communities," he said. Both Bangkuai and Azfar commended the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS) for spearheading Sabah Fest Singapore Edition, with support from Tourism Malaysia Singapore, Matrade, DESA, Jetsin, and travel partners. "With strong partnerships, strategic connectivity, and the pride of Sabahans worldwide, we are well prepared to welcome more visitors and ensure Sabah shines during Visit Malaysia 2026," he said. Meanwhile, Azfar said the High Commission of Malaysia to Singapore is proud to support Sabah Fest 2025 as it aligns with its mission to foster bilateral ties through cultural exchange, tourism promotion, and economic collaboration. The event on Saturday also marked the introduction of the "Stamp and Feel Sabah" campaign, a stamp rally programme encouraging Singaporean tourists to explore various destinations across Sabah. Also present were STTOS Managing Director Wendy Clare Stephen and senior officers from Tourism Malaysia and Matrade.
Daily Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Sabah Fest brings North Borneo's culture to Singapore
Published on: Saturday, August 16, 2025 Published on: Sat, Aug 16, 2025 Text Size: Joniston (standing, seventh right) with Azfar (standing, eighth right) and STTOS Managing Director Wendy Clare Stephen (standing, fifth left) at the launching of Sabah Fest Singapore Edition at the Marina Square, Singapore. SINGAPORE: The sights and sounds of Sabah came alive at Marina Square on Saturday as the Sabah Fest Singapore Edition 2025 showcased North Borneo's culture through music, dance, food, and heritage. Visitors enjoyed traditional performances, food products, and crafts that reflected the state's diverse ethnic traditions. For Sabahans living in Singapore, the event was a chance to reconnect with their roots, while Singaporeans were introduced to Sabah's cultural richness. Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk Indera Azfar Mohd Mustafa jointly launched the celebration. Joniston, who is also chairman of Sabah Tourism Board, urged the Sabah community abroad to play their part in promoting the state internationally, highlighting Singapore's position as a regional hub with direct flight connections to Kota Kinabalu. He described Sabah Fest as an ideal introduction for first-time visitors, adding that it builds momentum for Visit Malaysia 2026 and complements the state's Explore Sabah campaign. The event also marked the launch of the 'Stamp and Feel Sabah' campaign, encouraging Singaporeans to explore destinations across the state, with both Joniston and Azfar praising the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore for spearheading the initiative with support from partners. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
21-06-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Sabah National Tabletop Con showcases creative tourism through play
The organisers of The Sabah National Tabletop Con 2025 with Josie Lai (sixth from right). KOTA KINABALU (June 21): The Sabah National Tabletop Con 2025 officially opened on Saturday at IMAGO Shopping Mall here, marking a new chapter for Sabah in promoting tourism and culture through the creative world of tabletop games. Organized by the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS), in collaboration with #LaiPlayLeow (Singapore) and XMultisport Event (Sabah), the two-day event brings together local talent, tourism players, and board game enthusiasts to celebrate design, imagination and play. The event is the grand finale of the Sabah National Board Game Design Competition, launched earlier this year to encourage local creators to develop games inspired by Sabah's diverse natural beauty, indigenous heritage and cultural narratives. In her officiating speech, Datuk Josie Lai Ming Sing, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment for Sabah said: 'This pioneering event brings together creativity, tourism and collaboration through the medium of board games. We celebrate not just the finalists, but the birth of Sabah's very own board game — a fresh and imaginative way to introduce our stories to the world.' Visitors can enjoy game showcases, creative workshops, playtest stations, merchandise booths and special lucky draws. The top three board game winners are being featured and played by the public for the first time at the event. 'This is more than just a gathering of game lovers — it's a bold move to position Sabah as a creative hub and national destination for cultural innovation,' said STTOS managing director Wendy Clare Stephen. The event is supported by key partners including the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah Tourism Board, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Art Gallery, and IMAGO Shopping Mall, which generously hosts the national-level event. 'Let us continue supporting those who believe in the power of creativity to elevate Sabah's presence on the global stage,' Josie concluded her speech.
