By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, June 4: Any plans to bring in more visitors to Sarawak including proposed direct flights from China to Sibu is good news, says Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said one of the biggest setbacks in Sarawak’s tourism industry is flight connectivity.
“Therefore, if Malaysian Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) Dato Seri Tiong King Sing could arrange for direct flights from China to main cities in Sarawak be it Sibu, Miri and Kuching, we will welcome it as long as it is done properly.
“Apart from that, we must make sure that the tourists are really visiting (Sarawak) because we do not want them to come here to become GRO (guest relation officers) or get into other troubles. We do not want all that,” he told reporters during a press conference after officiating the closing ceremony of Bako Suntong Festival in Kampung Bako here today.
Nevertheless, he noted that the Sarawak government already has mechanisms in place to track visitors coming into the State based on the data from the State’s various entry points and travel agents.
“As of last month, we already have about 1.6 million visitors to Sarawak,” he added.
Abdul Karim was responding to Tiong’s recent statement that China’s Xiamen Airlines is still conducting studies on the possibility of establishing direct flights from Fuzhou to Sibu.
Asked by a reporter whether this matter would call for the need of upgrading related airports, Abdul Karim said the Sarawak government is already working on the matter as it anticipates the establishment of its own airline.
However, he explained that efforts to elevate the status of Bintulu and Sibu airports into international airports fall under the Ministry of Transport Malaysia (MOT).
He further revealed that the project to upgrade Kuching International Airport including its toilet facilities will be tendered this month. — DayakDaily
