KUALA LUMPUR, 20 May 2025 – Tourism Malaysia, in collaboration with ibis Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), bring the vibrant spirit of Kaamatan Harvest Festival to Kuala Lumpur by proudly presenting “Kaamatan Sabah Food & Culture Promotion” at the hotel’s Kampung Kitchen Restaurant, immersing guests in Sabah’s rich cultural and diverse culinary heritage, from 19 to 31 May 2025.

The event was officially launched today by YB Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, highlighting its importance in strengthening domestic tourism and elevating Sabah’s unique cultural offerings in the lead-up to Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).

Guests can indulge in a specially curated Sabah Kaamatan Buffet, available daily, with highlights such as authentic Sabahan dishes prepared by Chef Sandra from My Native Sabah Restaurant. Buffet prices start at RM45 for lunch and RM55 for dinner on weekdays, and RM59 for lunch and RM69 for dinner on weekends and public holidays. Diners can also enjoy lively busker performances and complimentary parking throughout the promotional period.

As an added treat, guests who spend a minimum of RM150 in a single receipt during the promotion will stand a chance to win a 2-day, 1-night complimentary stay at Borneo Beach and Mangrove Resort, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. For a complete immersive experience, ibis KLCC also offers an exclusive Kaamatan Staycation Package at RM448 nett per room per night for 2 pax, which includes buffet breakfast and Kaamatan Buffet lunch or dinner at Kampung Kitchen Restaurant.

Ms Haryanty Abu Bakar, Director of Tourism Malaysia Sabah, said: “We are thrilled to partner with ibis KLCC to bring the authentic flavours and festive atmosphere of Kaamatan to Kuala Lumpur. This promotion is a fantastic opportunity for city dwellers and tourists alike to experience Sabah’s incredible hospitality and cultural richness in the heart of Kuala Lumpur.”

Malaysia’s tourism sector continues to score a strong recovery and growth. In 2024, Malaysia logged 38 million visitor arrivals, a significant 31.1% increase compared to 29 million arrivals in 2023. This also surpasses the pre-pandemic record of 35 million arrivals in 2019 by 8.3%. The top visitor-generating markets were Singapore, Indonesia, China, Thailand, Brunei, India, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and Chinese Taipei. The total visitor receipts reached RM106.78 billion in 2024, reflecting a substantial growth of 43.7% over 2023 and exceeding the 2019 level by 20%.

This momentum continued into January and February 2025, with visitor arrivals surging by 31.3% to 6.7 million compared to the same period in 2024, and up 14.5% from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. Singapore remained the top source market, contributing 3.1 million arrivals, followed by China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Brunei.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene. The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, and TikTok.

For enquiries, please contact:

Khairul Amir Anuar
Deputy Director
Tourism Malaysia Sabah
khairulamir@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +6088-211732

Norshariza Mohd Saad
Deputy Director
Corporate Communications Division
norshariza@tourism.gov.my
Tel: +603 8891 8775