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Sabah National Tabletop Con showcases creative tourism through play
The organisers of The Sabah National Tabletop Con 2025 with Josie Lai (sixth from right).
KOTA KINABALU (June 21): The Sabah National Tabletop Con 2025 officially opened on Saturday at IMAGO Shopping Mall here, marking a new chapter for Sabah in promoting tourism and culture through the creative world of tabletop games.
Organized by the Sabah Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STTOS), in collaboration with
#LaiPlayLeow (Singapore) and XMultisport Event (Sabah), the two-day event brings together local talent, tourism players, and board game enthusiasts to celebrate design, imagination and play.
The event is the grand finale of the Sabah National Board Game Design Competition, launched earlier this year to encourage local creators to develop games inspired by Sabah's diverse natural beauty, indigenous heritage and cultural narratives.
In her officiating speech, Datuk Josie Lai Ming Sing, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment for Sabah said: 'This pioneering event brings together creativity, tourism and collaboration through the medium of board games. We celebrate not just the finalists, but the birth of Sabah's very own board game — a fresh and imaginative way to introduce our stories to the world.'
Visitors can enjoy game showcases, creative workshops, playtest stations, merchandise booths and
special lucky draws. The top three board game winners are being featured and played by the public for the first time at the event.
'This is more than just a gathering of game lovers — it's a bold move to position Sabah as a creative hub and national destination for cultural innovation,' said STTOS managing director Wendy Clare Stephen.
The event is supported by key partners including the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah Tourism Board, Tourism Malaysia, Sabah Art Gallery, and IMAGO Shopping Mall,
which generously hosts the national-level event.
'Let us continue supporting those who believe in the power of creativity to elevate Sabah's presence on the global stage,' Josie concluded her speech.
