KUALA LUMPUR, March 20– The Tourism Sector Matching Grant (GSSP) and the Tourism Promotion Grant (Gamelan) are being offered to strengthen the tourism sector in Sabah in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, stated that applications for both grants opened on January 1.

"The Tourism Sector Support Grant (GSSP) is designed to support high-impact programmes, particularly those organized by tourism industry players and the private sector, focusing on both domestic and international tourism events," he said.

"Meanwhile, the Tourism Promotion Grant (Gamelan) aims to encourage the participation of tourism industry players in tourism exhibitions," he added when responding to a question from Senator Datuk Bobbey Bin Suan about the Ministry's efforts to assist tourism product operators in Sabah ahead of Visit Malaysia Year 2026.

Additionally, participation in events such as the Malaysia International Tourism Market (MITM) Sabah 2025 and the MATTA Fair 2025 are key factors contributing to the growth of the tourism industry in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.