By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 20: China Eastern Airlines is planning to introduce a new direct flight route between Kuala Lumpur and Bintulu, says Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture (MOTAC) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing.
He said further discussions with other airlines will follow, as Bintulu is conveniently close to Similajau National Park, which boasts a long, unpolluted coastline.
“I recommend establishing more chartered flight routes and hope that they may eventually become regular routes,” he said in a statement today.
His announcement came following a meeting with representatives from Guangzhou Asian World International Travel recently.
According to records, Malaysia welcomed 164,568 tourists from the South China region last year, representing a remarkable 85.88 per cent increase compared to the 88,534 tourists recorded in 2022.
Recognising the region’s vast potential in tourism, trade, and investment, Tiong pledged to intensify promotional efforts and broaden market outreach.
Additionally, he said the travel agency is also planning to arrange a familiarisation trip to assess the capacity of local hotels and tourism facilities.
At the same time, Tiong also highlighted pollution issues in Semporna including illegal sea littering by squatters, inadequate marine conservation efforts, and a shortage of certified tour guides.
To address the lack of certified guides, proposals were made to collaborate with Tourism Malaysia and Aswara to implement training programmes.
“I propose holding courses in Peninsular Malaysia to enable more individuals from East Malaysia to participate, thereby producing more certified tour guides,” he stated.
On the subject of port management and safety, Malaysian representatives reiterated their commitment to improving these aspects during prior discussions with China’s Minister of Culture and Tourism. — DayakDaily
