By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, May 14: Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah revealed Sarawak plans to establish direct flights between Sarawak and Fujian Province, China.
Abdul Karim told reporters this at a press conference during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House for Asajaya constituency today, which was held in the Asajaya Sports Complex in Asajaya.
He was asked to comment on the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) yesterday at Wisma Bapa Malaysia between MTCP and China’s Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism.
“We are proud because two MoUs were signed with China yesterday: one between MTCP and China’s Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, and another between Kuching South City Council (MBKS) and Quanzhou City of China.
“Our hope is that the MoUs will result in closer cooperation with China and a strengthening of our relationship with them from a cultural, educational, and social standpoint.
“One of our plans is to have a direct flight from Sarawak to Fujian Province, and God willing, we will follow through on that plan so that tourists from Fujian can visit Sarawak as well as country more easily,” he said.
Furthermore, Abdul Karim, who is also Asajaya assemblyman, believed that the MoU signing between Sarawak and Fujian Province, which was represented by China’s Fujian Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism director-general Lin Xiangdong and witnessed by Secretary of the Fujian Provincial Committee and Chairman of the Standing Committee of Fujian Provincial People’s Congress Zhou Zuyi, will provide greater exposure of Sarawak to the Fujian community and increase the number of China visitors to the region.
“This year, we aim to attract three million visitors. In the first, second, and third months, we came close to reaching one million. And the number of visitors during those three months far exceeded our expectations.
“So I believe that by September, the ninth or tenth month, we will have met our target of three million visitors.
“When we reach the twelfth month, December, in my opinion, the amount will most likely exceed four million,” he added. — DayakDaily
