Increase Direct Flights from China to Sabah

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is seeking feedback from the Tourism Ministry on the feasibility of increasing direct flights from China to Sabah to replace charter flights from that country.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat said there were now only direct flights to Kota Kinabalu from Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

“Last year, there were a lot of charter flights from eastern and western China to Kota Kinabalu,” Chong told a news conference after receiving a call from Deputy Tourism Minister Datuk Donald Lim at his office here on Monday.

“Come this Chinese New Year, we will be receiving 16 charter flights from China to Sabah,” he said, adding that Lim was familiar with the China market and, therefore, his advice was sought.

Chong also discussed with Lim the possibility of increasing the flight frequencies from other countries so that more tourists could come directly to Sabah.

He said there were 79 direct flights a week to Kota Kinabalu from countries such as Japan, South Korea, Brunei, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Hong Kong.

On the sinking of a boat ferrying tourists at the Padas river estuary in Libaran last week, Chong said it had affected tourism in the short term but expressed confidence more tourists would continue to visit the state.

Source : STAR

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