Newly-minted Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew anticipates 2023 to be a good year for the sector.

She said there was a vibrant market for further tourism development ready to be explored this year.

"Starting 2023, I look forward to a busy, exciting and challenging year for the tourism industry in Sabah.

"Next week, I will be meeting the assistant minister, permanent secretary and other senior ministry officials.

"I will also be meeting the tourism industry players to map out our plans for Sabah," she said in a statement.

Liew, who is also Api Api assemblyman, added prior to the global shutdown, Sabah recorded some 4.3 million tourists, more than half of them from China, during her tenure from 2018 to 2020 under the Warisan-led government.

"But shortly after that, there was a change of government, followed by the Covid-19 pandemic for a couple of years, so the market was very quiet.

"Now that the situation has improved, I believe the tourism sector will pick up greater momentum again," she added.