Limbang, Lawas — A great tourism draw

LIMBANG: The natural heritage of Limbang and Lawas has the potential to be combined into a top tourism draw if promoted together with Brunei and Sabah.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said even humble mangroves could be attractive tourism products along with the rich cultural heritage, local delicacies and other products indigenous to Lawas and Limbang districts.

“We have the beautiful mountains and beauty of our nature, rivers, mangroves, and the Bay of Brunei, which is the best package for tourism,” he said when launching Pesta Limbang yesterday on behalf of Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg.

“This unique diversity is our strength and despite our location far in the north of Sarawak, we have great nature, culture, unique delicacies and strategic location in BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines- East Asean Growth Area), bordering Brunei, Indonesia and Sabah.”

He said the state government has already carried out several infrastructure development initiatives here for tourism.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Limbang, Lawas — A great tourism draw

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Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Labuan

LABUAN: Ministry of Federal Territories plans to turn Labuan into a new Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) hub for countries in the East Asian region.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the matter was being discussed between his ministry and the relevant parties.

“Efforts are being made and discussions ongoing to make Labuan as a LCCT hub for countries in East Asia such as China, Korea, Japan, Kalimantan and also the BIMP-EAGA growth area,” he said.

Tengku Adnan was speaking to reporters after officiating the “Kenduri 1Malaysia” programme in conjunction with the Federal Territory Day celebrations at the Labuan International Lawn Bowls Arena near here on Saturday.

Also present were Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli, Senator Datuk Yunus Kurus, Secretary General to the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Seri Adnan Mohd. Ikhsan and Labuan Corporation Chief Executive Officer Azhar Ahmad.

Tengku Adnan said his ministry was also in talks with two businessmen to develop 500 acres of land for tourism-related industries.

In addition, he said his ministry had instructed the Labuan Corporation to look into how Boracay was promoted as a famous tourist island in the Philippines.

Continue reading at: Low Cost Carrier Terminal in Labuan

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Miri, Brunei to jointly promote tourism

LIMBANG: Sarawak and Brunei are to jointly promote tourism products in northern Sarawak including the Heart of Borneo Project, as Limbang is strategically located in the cluster of the Brunei Darussalam Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

Sarawak Tourism and Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Abang Openg said currently Sarawak has three tourism proposals to collaborate with Royal Brunei which has direct connection with Hong Kong and Singapore to bring in more tourists including to northern Sarawak.

“In addition, we need to identify whether Limbang, Brunei and Sabah had common strategies in promoting proposals to set up Borneo Airpass for air connectivity between Sabah, Brunei and Northern Sarawak,” he said yesterday when met by the media at the pre-launch of the Sejiwa Senada (SJSN) Programme at Limbang Sports Complex.

Also present were his assistant minister who is also Assistant Minister of Youth Development Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Deputy State Secretary Datuk Misnu Taha, Bukit Kota and Batu Danau State Assemblymen Dr Abdul Rahman Ismail and Paulus Palu Gumbang, Limbang Resident Datuk Maria Hasman and his deputy Selamat Jati Yanjah.

Abang Johari added that some RM40 million had been allocated under the 11th Malaysia Plan for developing infrastructure in Limbang including the Ranggau Valley project, second bridge across Limbang River and Limbang Esplanade.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: Miri, Brunei to jointly promote tourism

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Miri to be developed as state’s second gateway

MIRI: The Ministry of Tourism and Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will develop Miri as a second gateway into the state by leveraging on tourist arrivals from Brunei.

Ministry of Tourism permanent secretary Datuk Ik Pahon Joyik said both the ministry and the board wish to establish greater connectivity under the spirit of Asean and the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga).

“The arrival of people from the United Kingdom is around 14,000 through Bandar Seri Begawan last year. This figure is for tourists from the UK (United Kingdom) only and does not include tourists from other European countries such as Germany and France, including United States and Australia.

“This means that they must be flying using Royal Brunei Airlines and then from Brunei they drive down to Miri and beyond,” he said during a media dinner on Tuesday.

He said the ministry and board are looking into the possibility of packaging Sarawak, particularly the northern region, on Royal Brunei flights to London, Shanghai and Melbourne from Bandar Seri Begawan.

As both Brunei and Malaysia are Commonwealth member countries, tourists and visitors from Europe and Australia will not be subject to multiple entry visas and can just drive down to Miri from Brunei.

“The only group we are looking at now is tourists from China. Last year alone, the United Nation’s Tourism Report revealed over 100 million Chinese going outbound where 70 per cent went out to Korea, Japan and Macau,” he said.

“The other 30 per cent go out to Southeast Asia. Just imagine if we can get one per cent from 100 million. For Malaysia, last year’s data was below 300,000 in the arrivals of tourists from China and around 35,000 arrivals into Sarawak.”

On hotel occupancy rates, Ik said Miri leads with 68 per cent followed by Kuching at 52 per cent.

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MASwings has what it takes to become regional carrier

KUCHING: Sarawak and Sabah are standing as one, as far as the potential of MASwings serving beyond East Malaysia is concerned.

Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg believed that the community airline subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines (MAS) would need to think beyond Sarawak and Sabah, should it want to take advantage of the growing economies across the East Asian region.

“MASwings has the potential to become a regional airline serving not only Sarawak and Sabah, but also the BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asean Growth Area),” Abang Johari, who is also Housing Minister, said at the launch of MASwings’ ‘The New Beginning’ at Kuching Waterfront on Friday night.

The campaign is slated for enhancing its customer service via new initiatives.

The minister, however, stated that the state government was keeping a close watch on the carrier’s development, with all eyes on MAS’ ongoing major restructuring.

“Being a subsidiary of MAS, MASwings cannot make its own decision,” he said, pointing out that past restructuring exercises had put adverse impact on the state by way of termination of several international flight routes.

Nonetheless, Abang Johari called on the aviation industry to look into eco-tourism as the fastest growing segment of global tourism in which Sabah and Sarawak had been focusing heavily on, urging for more efforts into finding an alternative to air-link East Malaysia towards the capitalisation of this lucrative market.

“That’s why I agree with Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister) in taking a common position towards exposing Sarawak and Sabah to, as well as linking (the two states) with the international market.

“Perhaps, MAS stakeholders should look into the possibility of MASwings becoming Sabah and Sarawak regional airline, linking the two states with strategic hubs such as Hong Kong, Seoul, Bangkok, Singapore and Jakarta,” he added.

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Response growing to BIMP-EAGA Borneo flights

BALIKPAPAN: MASwings began its service to Balikpapan in East Kalimantan on Feb. 1 - its fourth BIMP-EAGA destination after Bandar Seri Begawan, Pontianak and Tarakan.

"Today we created history on Borneo. Exactly on Feb 1, 2012 MASwings expanded into a bigger regional area of BIMP-EAGA with the first flight from KK and Kuching to BSB.

"With this fourth route, MASwings is ready to welcome Visit Malaysia Year 2014 which was announced by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Ng Yen Yen last month," said MASwings Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Capt. Mohd Nawawi Ahmad.

"Being the only national carrier that fully supports the BIMP-EAGA goals to increase transportation within the region, MASwings is proud to collaborate with local tourism bodies and agencies to further promote tourism in Malaysia and Sabah and Sarawak in particular" added Nawawi at a press conference in Balikpapan.

He said MASwings, a wholly owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, embarked on this expansion solely to meet the objectives of BIMP-EAGA.

"There are 16 million people in this sub region and eight million people in the nine main cities. Our flight to Balikpapan is the fourth destination of that nine cities that we are targetting."

Nawawi said for the past year that they have been operating in BIMP-EAGA, the passenger load has been very encouraging.

"Initially some destinations were slow to pick up but later especially Pontianak and Tarakan has been very overwhelming. When we started operations into Tarakan, initially we operated three times a week but after two months we increased to daily flights.

From Tawau to Tarakan and from Kuching to Pontianak the load factor has been good.

"For the past one year, MASwings had an average of 50pc load factor serving Bandar Seri Begawan, Pontianak and Tarakan. "With the additional flights flying into Balikpapan, we are looking at increasing the load factor to an average of 70pc with 3,968 seats being offered on a weekly basis.

"We thank the people of Kalimantan for responding to our flights into Tarakan and Pontianak." With Indonesia and Malaysia being neighbours, Nawawi hoped this "air bridge" connectivity they can create even closer relations between the people of both countries.

"Today is a new chapter for MASwings. But we are not stopping here.

We are also looking at expanding into the other parts of Kalimantan i.e. Banjarmasin and into towns and cities in the Makassar area such as Ujung Pandang and Manado as part of phase two of MASwings expansion into BIMP-EAGA.

Continue reading at: Response growing to BIMP-EAGA Borneo flights

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Flights to Balikpapan from Kota Kinabalu, Kuching soon

Kota Kinabalu: Upcoming flights to Balikpapan via here and Kuching are not just commercially driven but in response to the Government's aim of improving connectivity between BIMP-EAGA countries, said MASwings' Vice President (Corporate Services and Communications), Yazid Mohamed.

"We are the first airline that is showing determination in linking BIMP-EAGA towns," Yazid told a press conference at Tawau airport after the media's familiarisation trip to Balikpapan.

However, MASwings would only proceed with the flights when it receives approval from the authorities. "We are still waiting for it.

The launch is planned for Dec. 16, subject to approval.

"When the flights are in operation and the response picks up sooner, we will try to increase frequency. Of course this is subject to aircraft time as well as the authority's approval."

He said MASwings was not experimenting in this regard.

"We are in this in the long run. The mere existence of MASwings is to provide the Government as an airline operator for rural air services.

CSR is embedded in MASwings."

Apart from commercial venture aspect as stated, Yazid also pointed out that their upcoming flights are intended to connect people among BIMP-EAGA member countries.

"It's about bridging all these towns to enrich its people, to promote a better understanding between them, to open their minds so that all of us can acquire more knowledge about each other in order to eradicate stereotyping and misunderstanding."

Spurring activities between these places and socio economic development was also among reasons.

On why Balikpapan was chosen, Yazid said it was suitable in terms of the technical capability of the aircraft and due to no existing services currently connecting these points.

"When there is no service, but potential in terms of market demand exists, why not provide services to nurture that demand?"

"KK and Kuching are giants in this region. There's a pull factor.

KK and Kuching will pull these people in which means one direction is already solved.

"When we commence the Kuching to Balikpapan flights, people in Balikpapan can go to Pontianak via Kuching."

The pattern of flight service is from Kota Kinabalu to Balikpapan, Balikpapan to Kuching, Kuching to Balikpapan, Balikpapan to Kota Kinabalu.

The Inaugural ex Kota Kinabalu and Kuching will be on the same day.

There will be four inaugurals in one day. "This is also subject to approval from various regulators in Malaysia as well as in Indonesia."

The flying time between KK and Balikpapan is approximately one hour 55 minutes. It is almost the same for Kuching, he said.

Continue reading at: Flights to Balikpapan from Kota Kinabalu, Kuching soon

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Boosting Borneo tourism through trans-boundary cooperation

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will be working with the Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA), Brunei Tourism Board (BTB) and the Sabah Tourism Board to collaborate with the private sector to attract more tourists to the state.

STB chief executive officer Datuk Rashid Khan said both Bandar Seri Begawan and Kota Kinabalu will be secondary hubs to bring in tourists from north Asia, China and Australia.

Presently there are more than 100 weekly direct international flights to Sabah from Kuala Lumpur, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei), Clark and Manila (the Philippines), Hong Kong and Shenzhen (China), Jakarta (Indonesia), Kaoshiung and Taipei (Taiwan), Seoul (Korea), Singapore as well as Osaka and Tokyo (Japan).

“The private sector must work with travel agents in the region to bring in more tourists to Sarawak.

“Our role is to provide marketing support to these people,” Rashid told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

He was optimistic that with bigger budget allocation from the government for next year, STB would be able to do more promotions overseas.

“The bigger budget allocation for next year is a big welcome for STB as it will allow us to do more promotion and overseas programmes next year,” enthused Rashid, adding that he could not disclose the actual amount allocated to STB before the budget is approved in the upcoming DUN sitting in November.

President of the Sarawak Tourism Federation (STF) Audrey Wan Ullok said its members had done their part by targeting certain markets in the regions to bring in tourists to the state.

“What we are doing is to complement the efforts of STB but we believe that more collaboration in certain areas need to be improved,” stressed Audrey.

STF members comprise travel agents, hoteliers, restaurant operators, tourist guides and car rental agencies.

Former Malaysia BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council chairman Datuk Wee Hong Seng opined that besides better air connectivity, tourism players must also improve their business connectivity with their counterparts from other countries in the region.

Continue reading at: Boosting Borneo tourism through trans-boundary cooperation

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MASwings launches Golf Escapade promotion

KUCHING: MASwings launched its Golf Escapade promotion that covers extensive prestige packages for golfers all over the world in conjunction with MASwings BIMP-EAGA Golf Challenge 2012 recently.

The tournament will be held on the lush green of Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club Miri on May 27 with participants from BIMP EAGA destinations like Brunei, East Kalimantan, West Kalimantan and the Philippines.

“The Golf Escapade package is a platform to support the growing golfers market as well as to further promote the current domestic tourism as well as within BIMP-EAGA region,” said MASwings’ chief executive officer Dato Captain Mohd Nawawi Awang at a press conference here on Tuesday.

He added that apart from that, MASwings aimed to create a luxury golf vacation experience for both local and international golfers by offering low cost packages to numerous other golf courses in Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei and Indonesia.

He also said: “The golf course is the best place for corporate people to meet and form business alliances.

“The Golf Escapade package will create the opportunity for business golfers to travel and play golf at an attractive price within Sarawak, Sabah, Brunei and Indonesia.”

The Golf Escapade package offers fares as low as RM509 to RM1,300 where customers will enjoy a return flight, hotel accommodation for three days two nights or two days one night stay with daily breakfast and return transfer.

Continue reading at: MASwings launches Golf Escapade promotion

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Sarawak wants Maswings to fly Kuching-Pontianak-Yogyakarta sector

KUCHING: Sarawak wants MASwings to fly an additional route on the Kuching-Pontianak-Yogyakarta sector to increase connectivity between the two destinations in the spirit of BIMP-EAGA, state Tourism and Housing Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said yesterday.

He made the proposal at the three-day Sarawak Yogyakarta East Asia Tourism Forum {EATOF} Business Collaboration Forum in Yogyakarta, which began on Wednesday, in which Malaysia was represented by Sarawak and Indonesia by Yogyakarta.

The synergy between Yogyakarta and Sarawak could tap bigger markets like China, Korea and Japan who are also members of EATOF, he said in a statement issued by his ministry here.

Abang Johari, who led a delegation of various industries under his ministry’s initiative, also highlighted on the idea of integrating the tourism attractions in the two places, including joint-packages combining UNESCO world heritage sites in Yogyakarta, the Boranudur, and Sarawak Mulu Cave. The mission would be made possible with airline linking Yogyakarta-Pontianak-Kuching through Batavia Air at present, he said.

In an audience with the Vice-Governor of Yogyakarta, Pakualam the IX, at the Kepatihan (Governor’s office), the discussion also elaborated on the potential of joint efforts in the areas of housing and education.

Yogyakarta, which recorded the second highest in Indonesia (after Bali) for property market, is a preferred location especially for retirement, could also benefit Sarawak as an alternative destination through Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H), said Abang Johari.

Continue reading at: Sarawak wants Maswings to fly Kuching-Pontianak-Yogyakarta sector

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Sabah Tourism Board eyes Davao as potential market

THE state of Sabah in Malaysia is looking at Davao City as a potential market for its growing tourism industry as it also taking advantage of the benefits brought about by the sub-economic region -- the Brunei Darrusalam, Indonesia, Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-Eaga).

Officials of the Sabah Tourism Board visited Davao City over the weekend to conduct a market study before they will recommend the opening of a direct flight from Davao City to Kota Kinabalu, the capital of Sabah.

"Davao City is a potential market, that's why we are here to conduct a market study. One consideration that we look into is the opening of a direct flight from Davao City to Kota Kinabalu and vice versa," Gordon C. Yapp, deputy general manager of Sabah Tourism Board, told reporters in a press briefing Saturday.

At present, he said, there are only two flights that service the Sabah route from the Philippines -- one is a direct flight from Clark Freeport in Pampanga and the other from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila. Both airlines offer direct flights to Kota Kinabalu and vice versa.

Yapp said another Filipino-owned airline SeaAir will soon open the same route from Clark Freeport.

"After the conduct of our market study in Davao City, we will assess if it’s possible to open a direct flight from Davao City," he said.

He said Mindanao travelers to Sabah, particularly Kota Kinabalu, usually took a boat from Zamboanga City to ferry them to the Malaysian state.

Sabah's other key cities are Sandakan and Tawaw, the gateway to Sabah's top diving spot, the Sipadan Island.

Allen Chia, senior research manager of the tourism board, said some 51,000 Filipinos visited Sabah last year, ranking fifth among Asian visitors topped by China/HongKong, South Korea, India and Japan.

Continue reading at: Sabah Tourism Board eyes Davao as potential market

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MASwings’ air services to Kalimantan receive good response

TAWAU: MASwings’ air services to a number of towns in the Kalimantan region in Indonesia from Sabah and Sarawak to date, has received good response, says its chief executive officer Datuk Kapt Mohd Nawawi Awang.

He said since the air service from Kuching to Pontianak in west Kalimantan began about two weeks ago, and the latest from Tawau to Tarakan, in East Kalimantan on Feb 13, the response from both Indonesian and Malaysian customers had been very encouraging.

“If the first phase succeeds, we will request for bigger aircraft to provide services to Balikpapan, South Sulawesi and Menado in Indonesia as well as Davao and Zamboanga in the south of the Philippines.

“For Kalimantan, particularly, if we succeed in the first six months, maybe by year-end, we will continue with the flights from Tawau to Tarakan and Tawau to Balikpapan.

“I am very confident of success as just in the first and second weeks, bookings have been full for return flights,” he added.

Mohd Nawawi was speaking to reporters in conjunction with the dinner function to commemorate the visit by a 22-member delegation from Tarakan who arrived on the inaugural MASwings flight from Tarakan to Tawau. The delegation was headed by Udin Hianggio.

He said the MASwings air service to areas in Kalimantan provided a boost to economic development in that area and Malaysia as well as the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

He said following the formation of the BIMP-EAGA in 1994, MASwings was the first company to answer the call for member nations to provide an service network to meet the groupings objective of ensuring regional prosperity.

Continue reading at: MASwings’ air services to Kalimantan receive good response

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MASwings To Boost Air Travel Within East Asean Region

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Brunei) -- The Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is set to witness greater economic growth with improved air connectivity.

The area is now increasingly emerging as an economic region with good development potential, unlike 18 years ago, when BIMP-EAGA was established.

However, during each BIMP-EAGA ministerial meeting the limited air connectivity has been identified as a setback in the efforts to develop the area.

The matter was again brought up during BIMP-EAGA's latest meeting in Cagayan De Oro, the Philippines in November 2011.

BIMP-EAGA leaders were optimistic that good air connectivity would serve as a catalyst for the region's economic activities, especially in the tourism and trade sectors.

At the end of the BIMP-EAGA Ministerial Meeting in Cagayan De Oro, the four nations agreed to look into ways to enhance aerial connectivity within the region.

Their consensus also included the initiative to extend the existing MoU with more destinations in the list, including those outside the BIMP-EAGA cooperation scope.

INAUGURAL FLIGHT

The consensus achieved enabled a Malaysian regional airline based in Sarawak, MASwings, to emerge as the first airline to connect entry points within BIMP-EAGA, with inaugural flights to Brunei and Indonesia.

Numerous parties felt that the flights were necessary and their introduction were timely.

Sabah's Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Bolkiah Ismail noted improved air connectivity would also help boost trade and tourism activities and, indirectly, the ties between member states.

The MASwings' flights to Brunei are contributing to this objective. Effective 6 Feb 2012, there are two daily flights between Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Begawan and three weekly flights between Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan.

Continue reading at: MASwings To Boost Air Travel Within East Asean Region

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MASwings may operate long haul aircraft

KOTA KINABALU: If the expansion of MASwings’ services is successful, there is a need for the federal government to seriously consider allowing MASwings to operate jet aircraft that can fly longer.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun said this during the MASwings Brunei Nite here on Thursday.

He said with the inaugural flight to Bandar Seri Begawan on Feb 1, there is hope that people from Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) could travel easier by air.

He said it could be a medium to strengthen relationships among the people in the BIMP-EAGA region.

When asked on MASwings’ new route, he said it would be good based on the marketing plan done by the airline.

He said when an airline starts a new destination, it must be complemented with a good marketing strategy and he assumes that MASwings was ready with their marketing plan when they decided to fly to Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei.

“With a smaller aircraft, MASwings could probably land on smaller airfields in future. Now the flight is only from Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Begawan-Kota Kinabalu, but perhaps in the future, if there is demand to land at the other parts of the state, they can do it.

“It is not a short term effort. If we are talking about passenger load and benefit, I think we have to look medium and long term,” he said.

Commenting on MASwings’ confidence on the Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Seri Begawan route compared to that of Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan, Masidi said the important thing was to look at the spin-offs that could benefit both regions.

“It is not the issue of more Bruneians or Sabahans coming here and there, it is more on the amount of money that is being spent at the respective regions. The spin-off is the benefit,” he said.

Continue reading at: MASwings may operate long haul aircraft
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MASwings can benefit from ‘link-ups’ with private sector

KUCHING: MASwings Sdn Bhd (MASwings) should explore ‘link-up’ opportunities with the private sector in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-the Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region.

Industry sources observed that the recent annoucements that MASWings was gearing itself to venture into the BIMP-EAGA routes as early as February 2012 would be far more successful if the rural service airline paid attention to further ‘tie-ups’ with third parties.

They explained that for long-term sustainability, a common package among the destinations in the regions should be established, and that required the involvement of the private sector in all fields such as travel agencies, hotel associations and so on.

“When common packages are in place, only then can joint promotion and marketing strategies be explored between the region. In order to retain viable routes, study as well as research should be done within the private sector too,” BIMP-EAGA Tourism Council Malaysia chairman Datuk Wee Hong Seng told The Borneo Post.

He further pointed out that tourism is a private sector driven initiative. “The private sector plays a vital role in contributing to the country’s economy and also helps to maintain the sustainability of the airline industry.”

“Within the BIMP-EAGA region, there is a massive population base of more than 60 million, covering an area of 1.56 million square kilometres. Considering the vast tracks of unexplored routes, it augurs well for the region to ?et cracking?and connect the dots,” he stressed.

Within the region, there existed a memorandum of understanding on ‘Expansion of Air Linkages’ between the governments of BIMP-EAGA, which was signed back in January 2007. It granted the Fifth Freedom Traffic Right (FFTR) airports in the EAGA countries to cater for EAGA carriers.

The FFTR arrangements allowed an air carrier of one EAGA member country to pick up traffic in the territory of the other EAGA member country and carry it to a third EAGA member country as part of the service to/from the home country of the operating carrier.

“Technically the MoU should propel BIMP-EAGA air services into a whole new scenario – an ‘open sky’ era, however that has not yet materialised. With the support given from the region, MASwings should be able to create a niche in the hotly contested air routes competition provided it takes into account other private sector participation startegies,” said Wee.

Currently, MASwings owns 10 ATR 72-500s and four DHC-6 Twin Otters. It was required to acquire at least four jetliners in order to fulfill the requirement of being a regional airline. Speculations were rife that MASwings may be acquiring the 737-800s aircraft from one of its sister companies Firefly under MAS.

Continue reading (Incl. Pic) at: MASwings can benefit from ‘link-ups’ with private sector

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Cebu Pacific Air Seeks To Expand Operations to Kuching

KUCHING -- Low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air of the Philippines seeks to expand its international routes in Malaysia by making Kuching its next stop after Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) CEO Datuk Rashid Khan said Sunday.

He said STB would facilitate and assist the airline in offering its service in this capital city of Sarawak.

"We welcome you and hope to work together towards a win-win situation and, particularly, in promoting the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) region," he said in a statement.

Rashid Khan said a delegation from Cebu Pacific Air, led by its International Sales and Distribution Systems Manager Leopoldo B. Coronel, and officers from the Philippine Tourism Department called on him yesterday and expressed their interest to expand the airline's operation to Kuching.

Continue reading at: Cebu Pacific Air Seeks To Expand Operations to Kuching

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KK and Kuching airports to emerge as transport hub for BIMP-EAGA

KOTA KINABALU: The federal government’s decision to allow MASwings to launch its first phase of operations into the Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines-East Asia Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) is a forward looking move long awaited by the people of Sabah and Sarawak, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Rahim Bakri.

He said the move by the airline, which serviced Sabah and Sarawak, would transform the Kota Kinabalu and Kuching international airports as transporation hubs and regional entry point for international destinations.

Abdul Rahim said MASwings’ foray into the growth areas would also propel tourism in the states.

“With the extension of services and business, MASwings will remain committed to provide the best service domestically especially in rural areas.

“This is in line with MASwings’s objective to provide subsidised air service in the interiors of Sabah and Sarawak which are not accessible by road,” he told Bernama yesterday.

Continue reading at: KK and Kuching airports to emerge as transport hub for BIMP-EAGA

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Biodiversity at our doorstep: Brunei's commitment to the Heart of Borneo

By Azaraimy HH

Complementing the BIMP-EAGA vision of turning the sub-regional area into a single-tourism corridor dubbed 'Equator Asia', Brunei has proven its unbending commitment to the Heart of Borneo (HoB) concept.

Currently there exists a proposal for the establishment of a 'Trans-boundary Eco-Tourism' within HoB member countries, which will benefit the tourism sectors of the three nations directly involved - Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia - with the Sultanate having committed a large portion of its undisturbed forests to the project. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is also assisting in the project.

Deputy Director of Forestry Department at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR), Mahmud Haji Yussof, in his capacity as Interim Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Brunei HoB Centre said, "I believe Brunei offers a strong position in eco-tourism potential because it is a country within the BIMP-EAGA sub-region where tourists do not have to travel far to experience rich biodiversity. In Brunei biodiversity is at the doorstep".

The Bulletin interviewed Mahmud Haji Yussof during a forestry briefing presented to a 17-member Chinese delegation that was led by Minister of State Forestry Administration of the People's Republic of China, Jia Zhibang, in which the delegation was informed of Brunei's current forestry status by the Director of Forestry Department, Haji Saidin bin Salleh. Also present at the briefing were the Permanent Secretary at the MIPR, Dayang Hajah Normah Suria Hayati binti PJDSMDSU (Dr) Hj Awang Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, and other senior level officers.

During the briefing Mahmud Haji Yussof highlighted the importance of the HoB project, which has the potential to prevent hundreds or maybe even thousands of species from facing extinction. Successful rainforest conservation requires joint efforts as forests are inter-connected, he added.

He mentioned there are several projects being undertaken as part of the HoB initiative that require the involvement of the relevant authorities across all the nations involved, such as the continuous study of fauna and flora within protected areas.

He also linked the importance of the overall conservation effort to potential economic benefits, particularly the tourism industry, which will ultimately benefit the Sultanate.

"The forest is not there simply for its timber or other by-products. Today we can apply leverage on the forest itself to grow eco-tourism", which he labeled as being a very promising industry for Brunei. The forests can basically "generate money for us by itself and also benefit the local people as eco-tourism is about the local people", he added.

Environmental and forest protection remains a strong issue in Brunei, where the issue is being strongly supported by the political leadership as he referred to His Majesty the Sultan's 2007 Titah in Sydney, which touched on the HoB initiative.

It is important to note however that external financial support is crucial for the initiative's success and that currently Brunei Shell, HSBC and SCB are private sector businesses that are supporting the initiative.

In conclusion he maintained that the committee will continue to try their best to secure sponsorship from other countries as it also contributes to the global environmental conservation effort as well.

Under a trilateral meeting, a project such as trans-border eco-tourism is being proposed, which will benefit member countries. "What else can we say but Brunei is a city inside a forest," he stated.

Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin
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MASwings eyeing to become household name in Sabah and Sarawak

KUCHING: MASwings aspires to be a household brand for the people of Sabah and Sarawak.

The community airline had held many activities in the past five months to position MASwings as an airline that serves the need of the people in Sabah and Sarawak.

“Being a community airline, I realise the importance of MASwings to the people of Sabah and Sarawak. Therefore, I tell MASwings employees that they really need to perform to serve the people in Sabah and Sarawak,” said the managing director of MASwing Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang during MAS and MASwings Raya open house at Hilton Kuching Hotel yesterday.

He revealed that 85 per cent of Maswings staff from Sabah and Sarawak. Out of 1,300, some 1,100 employees are from both states.

Capt Mohd Nawawi said he understood the difficulties faced by the people in rural places such as Bario and Ba Kelalan in getting from one place to another.

With MASwings as the lifeline for the people in the interior, he said the community airline looks forward to playing its role in serving the interior communities in Sabah and Sarawak, even with the limited equipment it has — 10 ATR aircrafts and four Twin Otters.

Besides serving the people of Sabah and Sarawak, Capt Mohd Nawawi said MASwings also aspires to expand beyond the shores of Sabah and Sarawak to position itself for the future.

“When I came in to lead the company five months ago, I realised I’m in the privileged position to take the airline into the future. When I came on board in April, my first task was to expand into BIMP-Eaga.

“Initially, our target was to start our operations in July and I thought three months down the road I could start our first operation into BIMP Eaga,” he said.

Continue reading at: MASwings eyeing to become household name in Sabah and Sarawak

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Support for MASwings’ Sarawak-Brunei initiative

KUCHING: BIMP-EAGA Malaysia Tourism Council is keen to see MASwings ply the Sarawak-Brunei route because the oil-rich sultanate could serve as another gateway into the state.

Its chairman Datuk Wee Hong Seng said the council would write to the Ministry of Transport to urge it to give MASwings the green light to start this service.

“I do not see any reason for not approving it since MASwings wants to fly the route,” he told reporters after opening the celebration of Pa Sien Kung’s birthday at King’s Centre here on Saturday.

The former president of Sarawak Tourism Federation asserted that any connectivity to the state “is a plus point” for the tourism market.

“If MASwings is willing to fly, why hold it back? It is not difficult for the Ministry of Transport to sort things out if the issue is for MASwings (to only) operate rural air services.

“I do not think it has something to do with the open sky policy. What matters is that over 100 seats can be easily filled if MASwings serves the route.”

Wee said the council supported MASwings to fly not only Kuching-Brunei but also Kuching-Jakarta and Kota Kinabalu-Brunei.

If this materialised, it would certainly enhance connectivity in the BIMP-EAGA region.

Responding to the possibility of Firefly terminating services in Sarawak and Sabah, he said the swapping of shares between Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and AirAsia should not result in a monopoly.

Continue reading at: Support for MASwings’ Sarawak-Brunei initiative
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