By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, July 25: The upcoming direct flights from Pontianak to Kuching, expected to begin on Sept 12, will not only enhance connectivity but also boost medical tourism and regional concert attendance in Sarawak.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that although he has yet to receive an official confirmation, he was informed that the Pontianak-Kuching route will operate with two daily flights.
“From what I gather, the direct flight will start on Sept 12. It’s going to be twice daily, I think, and around RM180 per week, if I’m not mistaken,” he said during a press conference announcing the Air Supply 50th Anniversary Concert at The Spring Mall today.
He pointed out that the flight’s timing is ideal, arriving just before the highly anticipated Air Supply concert on Sept 24 at SBC Hall.
“There are a lot of rich people down there now (in Pontianak). Every time we have a concert, I can see many of them coming in by road.
“Even during last year’s year-end countdown, the CIQS (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex) at Tebedu was jammed for three days. That’s how many came in from Indonesia—and that’s just from Pontianak,” he shared.
He also noted that the direct flight from Jakarta continues to perform strongly, with a passenger load consistently above 80 per cent, reflecting robust demand from Indonesian travellers.
Abdul Karim further highlighted the increasing number of visitors from Singapore, while reaffirming Brunei’s role as a key tourism market for Sarawak.
“Brunei has always been very supportive of our tourism sector. More than 100,000 Bruneians come into Sarawak every year. Whether it’s for entertainment, marathons, extreme sports, or even 4×4 rallies—the Bruneians are always the biggest group,” he said.
Touching on medical tourism, Abdul Karim affirmed that Indonesians remain the largest contributors.
“We know the biggest numbers come from Indonesia—Pontianak and Jakarta. Many still travel by road, which takes about four to five hours. Some even fly from Pontianak to Jakarta, and then from Jakarta to Kuching.
“With both Pontianak and Jakarta now having direct air links to Kuching, we expect to see a significant increase in the number of patients seeking treatment here,” he added.
He also hinted at future regional connectivity, revealing that a state delegation led by the Deputy Premier is flying to Balikpapan today — a city he described as “bigger than Pontianak.”
“Who knows, maybe in the future we’ll see direct flights from Balikpapan too,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts I (Tourism) Datuk Sebastian Ting and Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts II (Creative Industry and Performing Arts) Datuk Snowdan Lawan. — DayakDaily
