Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick suggests developing religious tourism in Sabah as a new attraction for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. He believes this would highlight the harmony and religious diversity of Sabah, attracting both local and international tourists to explore mosques, churches, Hindu temples, and Buddhist temples in close proximity.
Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick has suggested that religious tourism be developed in Sabah as a new attraction for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. — The Borneo Post picPENAMPANG, Feb 12 — Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick has suggested that religious tourism be developed in Sabah as a new attraction for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.
“This is something special that we can promote through religious tourism, so that both local and international tourists can understand how Malaysians live together in harmony through tolerance and respect,” he said at the Sri Subramaniar Temple at Jalan Lama Penampang, Kinarut, near here for the Thaipusam celebration.
“For the tourism packages and programmes, I believe the Ministry of Tourism can look into how to attract both local and foreign tourists to Sabah for the religious pilgrimage tourism,” he said. “We can see that the Kota Kinabalu City Mosque already attracts many tourists who come to take pictures. But if tourists were also taken to visit other places of worship, it would help them understand and respect the religious harmony in Sabah.Ewon, who is also Penampang Member of Parliament, also shared that last year he donated RM30,000 to the Sri Subramaniar Temple and will continue supporting religious needs in his area.
Ewon also expressed his appreciation for the Indian community, saying they have played a role in nation-building, unity and religious harmony.
RELIGIOUS TOURISM SABAH VISIT MALAYSIA YEAR 2026 TOURISM DEVELOPMENT HARMONY
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