By DayakDaily Team
SIBU, June 7: The Ministry of Transport Sarawak (MOTS) is currently working closely with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) to provide incentives for inaugural flights entering Sarawak.
According to a report by Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas), MOTS Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin said the collaboration has the potential to increase the number of international flights to Sarawak, which in turn is expected to attract more tourists and boost the local economy.
“Direct flights from Singapore to Kuching and from Brunei to Kuching are already available, now continuous efforts are made to expand the flight network to other destinations.
“With more international flights, we hope to see an increase in tourist arrivals which will boost the local economy,” he said when speaking in a ceremony to welcome the Scoot’s Singapore-Sibu maiden flight at Sibu Airport on Wednesday (June 5).
Lee also said that the new Scoot aircraft with 112 seats provides flexibility for the low-cost carrier Singapore Airlines (SIA) to increase the frequency of flights to the State.
Although the capacity of the aircraft is relatively small, he said it gives the opportunity for more flights to be scheduled and offers more options for passengers.
“The increase in the frequency of these flights will attract more tourists, especially from Singapore as well as international tourists to Sarawak.
“We hope that Scoot and the Ministry of Tourism will work together to promote Sarawak as a preferred tourist destination,” he said.
Scoot flights from Singapore to Sibu will operate three times a week; on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
Flights will depart from Singapore at 5.25am and return from Sibu at 7.50am.
Also present at the ceremony were MOTAC Deputy Minister Khairul Firdaus Akbar Khan, Bukit Assek assemblyman Joseph Chieng Jin Ek, Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor, STB member Senator Robert Lau Hui Yew, MOTS permanent secretary Datu Wong Hee Sieng, and Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) chief executive officer Chew Chang Guan. — DayakDaily
