Posted on October 9, 2013, Wednesday
MIRI: Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) is optimistic of achieving the targetted 4.2 million tourist arrivals to the state by yearend despite Malindo Air suspending its KL-Miri route starting next month.
Its CEO, Datuk Rashid Khan, said the suspension would undeniably affect tourist arrivals to Miri but he was confident that tourists would still come using other airlines.
“Air connectivity no doubt plays an important role in getting more tourists to Sarawak. However, we are not just focussing on visitors from Peninsular Malaysia but are actively attracting tourists from countries such as China, Indonesia and Brunei.
“I am confident Sarawak could achieve the 4.2 million targeted tourist arrivals by yearend,” he said when asked to comment on Malindo Air’s intention to suspend its KL-Miri route by next month.
Rashid said his optimism was based on the increased arrival of tourists (2.03 million or 2.7 per cent increase) in the first half of this year.
Tourist arrival from Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Singapore also grew by 10.8 per cent in the same period.
In 2012, a total of 4.1 million tourists visited Sarawak.
Rashid hoped that Malindo Air would reinstate the KL-Miri sector once the desirable load factor was achieved.
He also hoped that other airlines such as AirAsia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) would be able to fill the vacuum left by Malindo Air and where possible mount extra flights.
“I have spoken to the CEO of Malindo Air, Chandran Rama Muthy, and among the reasons given for the suspension was the low load factor.”
STB still optimistic despite Malindo Air"s suspension
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