Shaping Sabah’s Wellness Future FAVSTYLE Cover Feature

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On a quiet morning defined by clarity and purpose, an intimate dialogue unfolded between Datin Jeanette Tambakau, Co-Founder and Director of the award-winning Jari Jari Spa, and Lecturer Siti Hajar of Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). The interview forms part of a Sabah Tourism Board–commissioned research titled “The Potentials of Health and Wellness Tourism in Sabah: Spa and Retreat Centres.”

At the heart of the conversation lies a shared belief: that Sabah’s wellness future is built through alignment between academia, industry, and policy. The study foregrounds stakeholder perspectives as essential drivers of sustainable growth, acknowledging that credible wellness tourism depends on governance, standards, and a deep respect for place.


The discussion explored the evolving role of AMSPA, the importance of policy support and industry standardisation, and the rising potential of spa retreats and community-based wellness tourism as distinctive offerings. Rooted in Sabah’s natural abundance and cultural wisdom, these experiences move beyond indulgence toward intention, positioning wellness as both an economic catalyst and a form of stewardship.


Datin Jeanette’s insights reflect lived leadership. From practice to advocacy, her perspective underscores how operational excellence, ethical frameworks, and community integration can elevate Sabah’s spa sector to regional prominence. In conversation with academic research, experience meets evidence, transforming dialogue into direction.

As global wellness travel continues its ascent, Sabah stands at a thoughtful crossroads. When strategy honours community and standards amplify soul, the result is a wellness ecosystem that is grounded, credible, and quietly powerful. This moment marks more than an interview. It signals a collective commitment to shaping Sabah as a meaningful destination for health and wellness tourism, written by many hands, and guided by purpose.


#FAVSTYLECoverFeature #WellnessTourismSabah #JariJariSpa #UiTM #SabahTourismBoard #AMSPA #SustainableTourism #CommunityBasedWellness
Location: Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

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