KOTA KINABALU: Greater economic opportunities could help stem the outflow of talented Sabahan women seeking better career prospects abroad, says Datuk Seri Christina Liew.

While no official data confirms this trend, the Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister noted that many skilled and qualified women have left Sabah over the years to work in countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and parts of Asia.

“Sabah’s loss is a gain for other nations in terms of women’s workforce participation,” said Liew in her International Women’s Day message on Friday (March 7).

During her overseas promotions for Sabah’s tourism sector, Liew met successful Sabahan women who shared that they had migrated due to limited job opportunities or non-competitive salaries.

“With political stability, we hope that increased employment opportunities, better wages, and improved working conditions will encourage some to return and contribute to the state,” she said.

She cited the case of a highly qualified Sabahan geologist who spent years working abroad, whom she met at last year’s Swepa International Women’s Conference.

“I believe Sabah’s thriving oil and gas sector can attract women professionals currently employed overseas in the same industry,” she added.

Liew also encouraged women entrepreneurs to tap into Sabah’s revitalised tourism sector, which continues to show strong growth.

According to the Sabah Tourism Board’s Research Division, visitor arrivals are nearing pre-pandemic levels.

The Visitor Arrivals to Sabah Report for 2025 showed that January recorded 303,614 arrivals, including 135,944 international visitors.

Tourism receipts for the month were estimated at RM723.09mil marking a 23% increase compared to the same period in 2024.