Exploring the Potential of Rail Tourism in Sabah for Sustainable Tourism Development

Rail tourism is a low impact, sustainable product for Special Interest Tourists (SITs) which combines heritage conservation and community development. This study examines the potential for Sabah’s North Borneo Railway (NBR) to contribute to sustainable development by examining traveller experiences and perceptions. A quantitative approach was used with 200 passengers on the Tanjung Aru-Tenom line who were selected through purposive sampling and who completed a structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and multiple regression. The findings suggest that travellers associate Sabah’s rail tourism with nostalgia, scenery enjoyment and cultural education. Three dimensions of sustainability, ecological, cultural heritage and economic benefits explained 72% of the total variance. The results of the regression analysis revealed that satisfaction was significantly influenced by cultural interpretation (β = 0.42, p < 0.001) and environmental perception (β = 0.37, p < 0.01), but challenges such as irregular schedules, poor facilities, and low marketing visibility remained. The paper concludes that enhancing service delivery, heritage narration, and digital integration can help diversify Sabah’s tourism profile and promote inclusive rural development. As one of the first empirical studies on rail tourism in Malaysian Borneo, the study provides a data-driven perspective for regional management and sustainable tourism policy.

Rail Tourism, Sustainable Tourism, Heritage Railway, Special Interest Tourist, Environmental Responsibility

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