A big boost for Sarawak tourism

[alberttky 0]

 

KUCHING: Sarawak needs more direct flights, said Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg when he met with Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz.
“Tourists want direct flights, point-to-point destinations since it is convenient for them.
“If that can be done, I’m confident that Malaysia can be a haven for tourists,” he told Nazri at Kubah Ria yesterday.
“In terms of infrastructure, I think we are better than countries like Bali or Indonesia.
“So with direct flights, we can tap into the expanding market of the tourism industry,” he said.
Nazri replied by saying that he was aware of such need for direct flights in Sarawak.
“In the past, Sarawak ministers have always brought this matter up. To me, it is indeed very important. I totally agree with Datuk Amar on this need.
“To be honest, it is no longer the time to protect our national air carrier.
“We have to be open and competitive in the tourism industry, and if Malaysia Airlines cannot compete, then we cannot keep protecting it.
“Our main concern now is that tourism is one of the biggest money makers for us from overseas tourists.
“I will speak with the Transport Minister on this request, as I definitely am an advocate for more direct flights to Kuching,” he said.
Nazri added that the targeted number of tourists for this year would be 26.7 million arrivals for Malaysia, and 4.2 million for Sarawak.
For Visit Malaysia Year 2014, the targeted number will be 28 million for Malaysia and 4.5 million for Sarawak.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2013/6/9/sarawak/13217736&sec=sarawak

“In terms of infrastructure, I think we are better than countries like Bali or Indonesia."????????????????????????

Edited June 9, 2013 by alberttky

[Tamizi Hj Tamby 1]

 

“In terms of infrastructure, I think we are better than countries like Bali or Indonesia."????????????????????????

 

Hmmmmm; I highly doubt that.Does he have a proof that ours is better than Bali or Indonesia?

[CH Teo 0]

Mooting too much on this topic already, and yet nothing happened; TR is leaving KCH by this month end! No need to expects Singapore LCC to run flights to SBW and MYY perhaps...

[alberttky 0]

I may not have done well in Geography, but where is the country of "Bali" situated?

[CH Teo 0]

I may not have done well in Geography, but where is the country of "Bali" situated?

LOL, just realised, journalist making "Bali" a new "independent country"....

[Amirul Mazlan 0]

and i think they really deserve the newly-approved pay hike for Sarawak ministers since they have been working so 'hard'.

[BC Tam 2]

 

“I will speak with the Transport Minister on this request, .....” he said.

Bear in mind though that the current Minister for Transport is supposedly on an acting capacity till such time the MCA wriggle out of their self imposed exile from executive functions, ......

 

 

 

“To be honest, it is no longer the time to protect our national air carrier.

“We have to be open and competitive in the tourism industry, and if Malaysia Airlines cannot compete, then we cannot keep protecting it.

I'm under impression the floodgates have already been opened up - the red one did try out some routes but subsequently dropped them. Is MH still under 'protection' ? There is also the reduction in SIN flights to contend with

So, could this be a case of MH being made a scapegoat to divert attention from more fundamental reason(s) to the matter ?

[Radzi 2]

LOL, just realised, journalist making "Bali" a new "independent country"....

Which is near the Nation of Kuching, where airline crew from Malaysia will need to show their passport to enter.

Edited June 9, 2013 by Radzi

[Mike P 0]

Which is near the Nation of Kuching, where airline crew from Malaysia will need to show their passport to enter.

It's funny to see my west Malaysian friends always carry along their passports while travelling to East Malaysia though MyKad would just be sufficient.

 

I'm not sure how widely MyKad could be recognised by the world but it's definitely recognised in Australia. I got a friend at Sydney airport was asked to flash his MyKad at immigration checkpoint before he could be allowed to enter. We can also use MyKad to enter casino in Australia, as a proof of aging 18 and above.

[Kenneth Chong WT 0]

Bla bla bla...what is new from our ministers...haiz...

[Cheng Long 0]

Flights are just parts of the overall picture.. If there is demand, there will be more flights, if there is little demand, there will be little flights..

 

Sarawak Tourism will need to be more innovative. They have been offering tourists the same thing over and over again. Nothing new.

[Mike P 0]

I would have to say there's so much to offer in Sarawak but due to our lousy planning and lousy facilities in the state, poor connection, thing just ain't working.

 

However, I do notice several beaches like Sematan Beach, Santubong, Damai have gone through significant improvement, which is a good thing, yet, there're still more to be done before they could promote to the locals and foreigners and hence, justify more flights coming in.

[alberttky 0]

 

 

 

I would have to say there's so much to offer in Sarawak but due to our lousy planning and lousy facilities in the state, poor connection, thing just ain't working.

 

However, I do notice several beaches like Sematan Beach, Santubong, Damai have gone through significant improvement, which is a good thing, yet, there're still more to be done before they could promote to the locals and foreigners and hence, justify more flights coming in.

 

The colour of my teh tarik this morning looks better than the water at Damai Beach.

[Danial 0]

Protect Malaysia Airlines? Where is the guy going with that?

[flee 5]

As usual, politicians new to their portfolio mouth off their thoughts without getting sufficient advice from their staff. Any self respecting Tourism Minister will know that it is not the flights that attract visitors but the tourist attractions. The state must develop its tourism products first, then work with airlines to market them to tourists.

[alberttky 0]

As usual, politicians new to their portfolio mouth off their thoughts without getting sufficient advice from their staff. Any self respecting Tourism Minister will know that it is not the flights that attract visitors but the tourist attractions. The state must develop its tourism products first, then work with airlines to market them to tourists.

Obviously all the Tourism Ministers so far (along with other useless ministers who only talk big) are not self respecting because they've been yakking on this issue for the longest time, and the tourism products are still... (yawn... )

[Cheng Long 0]

But remember to make our tourism products successful is not solely the responsibility of the government but also the people...

[alberttky 0]

Looks like MH is pulling out the evening flight between KCH and SIN in the winter schedule.

[KK Lee 5]

How to expect commerce or common people to thrive in a state that have powerful cm and his family has virtually the first right of refusal in any profitable business

[H C Chai 4]

Looks like MH is pulling out the evening flight between KCH and SIN in the winter schedule.

 

I think they are already reducing some evening flights before the start of winter schedule... My parents were due to take MH647 in early September and they have already received notification a while ago that the flight has been "rescheduled" to the morning departure...

 

Also Silkair is reducing its frequency from 3x to 2x weekly in September. The 'good' news is they'll be back to 3x from October.

[flee 5]

So KCH is not growing because Sarawak does not appear to appeal to travellers, with its limited business activities as well as tourist attractions.

[alberttky 0]

KCH is just getting more and more pathetic. It should be called Kuching Domestic Airport instead.

[Mike P 0]

I on the other hand think Sarawak, particularly KCH has changed and developed a lot, over the years, there are many major development, malls, residencies, etc. Just this year, McD have decided to build 3 McD Drive Thru in Kuching and I even heard the 4th one is coming along.

[H C Chai 4]

One 'good' news is that Royal Brunei is now code sharing with MASwings on KCH-BWN. Online booking ex-KCH is doable to a handful of destinations (e.g. Shanghai, Melbourne).

 

I would love to give them a try once they have the 787's up and running

[Mike P 0]

One 'good' news is that Royal Brunei is now code sharing with MASwings on KCH-BWN. Online booking ex-KCH is doable to a handful of destinations (e.g. Shanghai, Melbourne).

 

I would love to give them a try once they have the 787's up and running

 

Looking forward for GA to codeshare with Maswings on the KCH - PNK route, too?