Labuan, International Garden Island of Borneo is emerging as a leding destination for both business and pleasure in Malaysia. This is a place where the old and the new complement each other, where traditional ways and hi-tech methods co-exist, where the people diverse backgrounds live in perfect harmony.

Labuan has everything one would expect of a tropical island. Surrounding coral reefs provide a glimpse into the fascinating and delicate marine eco-system. Secluded beaches on nearby islands offer quiet solitude. Shipwrecks promise the thrill of danger for expert divers.

Lovers of sea sports can enjoy an increasingly wide range of water sports and recreations.

As a duty-free port, Labuan is haven for branded imported goods.

Local customs and traditions, monuments and memorial parks, reflect the rich history of this island. From world-class resorts and five star hotels to broadband telecommunications, Labuan is well equipped to sever as a venue for corporate meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions. Its success as a progressive International Offshore Financial Centre in Asia further boosted the island appeal among the world’s rich and famous.

As a duty free island, Labuan enjoys many special privileges and facilities. Besides great bargain shopping, the island offers plenty of business and investment opportunities.

It has a similar status with other free trade zones in Malaysia, where raw materials and components used in manufacturing can be brought in and exported free of duty and taxes.

Such easing of custom control allows many profitable entreport activities to be conducted freely in Labuan.
Shipbuilding, ship repair, oil and gas are among the major industrial activities on the island. Other fast growing sectors include banking and finance, tourism and education.

How to get there

Malaysian Airlines and Air Asia fly daily from Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Miri and Kuching to Labuan. Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur are international gateways, which connect to Labuan to major cities in the world.

Labuan is only 8 km or twenty minute boat ride from Menumbok, a small fishing town on the mainland of Sabah. High speed air-conditioned ferries ply daily from Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei Darussalam. The trip by ferry from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan to Brunei is about three hours while travelling time from Labuan to Brunei is about an hour.

There are also vehicle-ferries, which transport trucks, cars and heavy machinery. They operate daily between Labuan and Menumbok. They are important links to Labuan’s trade with mainland Sabah and the Borneo hinterland.