STB chief executive officer Julinus Jeffery Jimit said Sabah welcomed around 9,000 Indian tourists in 2024, with arrivals rising to nearly 12,000 in 2025. “With the growth of numbers of Indian tourists from 2024 to 2025, I think the industry is ready. The ride officially commenced in the state capital, with cyclists flagged off from the Sabah Tourism Board building by Julinus, accompanied by Tourism Malaysia–Chennai director Hishamuddin Mustafa and Tourism Malaysia Sabah director Haryanty Abu Bakar. It is part of STB’s strategic efforts to strengthen Sabah’s presence in the Indian market and attract more visitors. STB is also set to participate in the Outbound Travel Mart 2026 in Mumbai next week, where the Ride Sabah North Borneo Cycling Tour is scheduled to be launched.