Sabah To Get More Direct Flights From Singapore

KOTA KINABALU, Nov 18 -- The number of direct flights from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu will increase to 22 with the start of Jetstar Asia Airways' flights from Dec 2.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, Datuk Masidi Manjun, said at present three airlines -- Malaysia Airlines (MAS), AirAsia and SilkAir -- had 18 flights a week.

He said with the increase in flights it would be a good strategy to promote Sabah as an ideal location for meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) and strengthen the tourism sector in the state.

"We will cooperate with the five-star hotels in planning our strategies, activities and promotion in Singapore to popularise Sabah as the ideal MICE location," he said at the State Assembly here Tuesday.

Masidi said this in reply to a question by Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif (Membakut-BN) on the state's strategy to strengthen tourism in the face of the current global financial crisis.

He said the ministry would also focus on markets which had direct flights to Sabah and strengthen cooperation with airlines which had air access to Sabah like MAS, AirAsia, SilkAir, Dragon Air, Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines and Cebu Pacific.

Masidi said Sabah would also increase marketing and promotional activities in destinations which offered low-cost flights.

"About 80 percent of the tourists come to Sabah for adventure and to relax and the low-cost flights have helped to boost tourism. More tourists are using the low-cost airlines during the present global financial crisis," he said.

Masidi said the real implication of the global financial crisis would be seen early next year.

However, he said, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has reported that the tourism sector would be able to weather the challenge.

He said only the frequency of travel and expenditure would be reduced.

"Thus, the ministry will focus on domestic and regional markets like Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, China and Australia.

"We will also promote tourism in regional hubs in Hong Kong and Tokyo which have connections to other world destinations," he said.