KUCHING: The state government will continue its efforts to get more direct flights to Sarawak, assures Minister of Sarawak Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youths and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said getting more air connectivity into the state is critical to achieve the government’s goal of boosting tourist arrivals into Sarawak.
“So far, the state government has succeeded in getting AirAsia, the world’s best low-cost airline, to increase its direct flights to Sarawak over the last three months. The airline is already operating direct flights from Pontianak, Indonesia to Kuching seven times weekly, and direct flights from Kuching to Langkawi four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday,” he said in a press conference at his office here yesterday.
The Kuching-Pontianak route began in June while the Kuching-Langkawi direct flight was launched early this month.
“There will also be a flight from China via Vietnam soon. That one is a daily flight. That is going to be a big boost for us.”
Abdul Karim said the state government was trying very hard to get air connectivity into the state, but cannot rush to get them done until all the products available in the state are put in place.
The products – whether national parks, health facilities, food outlets or tourist guides – must first reach a level that is expected by the industry, he pointed out.
“We have to go progressively according to what we can offer because if there is a big influx of tourists to Sarawak and we have nothing to offer, that is also not good because the tourism industry is very sensitive.”
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