KOTA KINABALU: Sabah and India have great potential to collaborate in various fields, but the key issues on air connectivity must be addressed, says the High Commission of India in Malaysia.
Acting High Commissioner Hitesh Rajpal said the Indian government sees strong potential in Sabah across tourism as well as trade and technology among other areas, and was ready to help to push for progressive developments on direct air connectivity between India and Sabah.
In a statement, he said these and other sectors continue to be prioritised by the Indian government in its international engagement strategy.
He said improved air links were essential to fully unlock the growing Indian outbound travel market to Sabah and if it could be addressed, it could be a game changer for tourism and economic cooperation.
The matter was highlighted during a courtesy call on Thursday by Hitesh on Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) Chairman, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai.
Hitesh said that Malaysia’s visa-free entry facility for Indian passport holders has further strengthened travel demand and positioned Malaysia as an attractive destination for Indian visitors, particularly in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year initiatives.
"I commend and appreciate the efforts of Sabah Tourism Board for its proactive engagement with the Indian market, including tourism stakeholders and airlines such as IndiGo.
"In terms of civil aviation, perhaps we can push the negotiations further. If we are able to establish direct connectivity, it would be a game-changer. Anything from our side, we would be happy to collaborate on and pursue collectively," he said.
Hitesh also highlighted opportunities for collaboration in the film industry, noting that incentives and smoother facilitation processes could encourage more Indian productions to choose Sabah as a filming destination.
In response, Bangkuai said Sabah continues to view India as an important growth market, supported by its large population and expanding outbound travel segment.
“We are actively pursuing stronger links with India, including the possibility of direct flights. Sabah will continue to work closely with relevant partners to strengthen our presence in the Indian market,” he said.
Joniston added that STB facilitates film productions in Sabah by assisting with coordination involving relevant authorities and providing ground support such as logistics and transport when required.
Currently, Indian tourists travel to Sabah via connecting hubs such as Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Brunei.
Sabah recorded 11,282 Indian visitor arrivals in 2025. Between January and April this year, 3,802 arrivals were recorded, reflecting a gradual upward trend.
