More flights will auger well for state tourism

KUCHING: The more flight services available the better and this could increase the number of tourists coming into Sarawak, said Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

In stating this, the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts said airlines are the main contributors to Sarawak’s tourists influx and are important to the state tourism sector.

“We depend on the airlines, the more airlines and flights come to Sarawak or even add extra flights, the better.

“The more airlines come here, I believe the number of tourists and visitors will increase next year,” he said.

Abdul Karim was asked by reporters to comment on MASwings’ decision to add direct flights from outside the country.

He was speaking at a press conference after he officiated at the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) Integrity Policies at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) on Thursday.

Adding further, Abdul Karim said the state government through STB supported the efforts of any airline industry that could increase direct flight routes involving Sarawak.

He said STB would always give its support if there were initiatives implemented that could generate a positive impact on the local tourism industry.

“If there is a new route or a new destination connecting into and around Sarawak, we welcome it.

“I believe STB will play its own role in shaping and providing support so that everything planned by the aviation industry can be successful,” he said.

Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said medical tourism in Sarawak was among the reasons why the tourists and visitors were coming to the state as the hospitals here attracted visitors like ‘gula dengan semut’ (ants with sugar).

“I like to use the saying of ‘gula dengan semut’. If there is sugar, there are ants.

“For a small city like Kuching which has a population of less than one million, Kuching has four private hospitals that are attracting medical tourism,” he said.