KUCHING: Sarawak welcomed a new direct flight from Shenzhen to the state capital, which is expected to bring in more visitors from China.
The inaugural Loong Air chartered flight landed at Kuching International Airport at 12.15pm on Tuesday (Dec 9) with 85 passengers, who were given a traditional welcome by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and other state agencies.
State Transport Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Wong Hee Sieng said the flight was scheduled to fly weekly every Tuesday, departing Shenzhen at 8.20am and Kuching at 7.55pm.
He said the first return flight to Shenzhen tonight will carry a full capacity of 171 passengers.
"This is a very good development as we now have more flights coming in from China," he told reporters after welcoming the passengers at the airport.
Wong also said Loong Air had given verbal indication of its plans to introduce direct flights from Hangzhou and Guangzhou to Kuching starting in March next year.
He said this would improve connectivity between Sarawak and China, spurring tourism and economic ties.
"Once we have direct flights, I think more people will be encouraged to travel, whether from China or Malaysia.
"We hope STB and the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry can help us do more vigorous promotion in China as we would like to welcome more Chinese tourists.
"And hopefully we can encourage more airlines, not only from China but also other countries, to fly here," he added.
China consul general in Kuching Xing Weiping, who was also present, welcomed the flight as a positive move for connectivity and mobility, enabling people to travel between both cities more easily.
"Shenzhen is an important city and one of the most developed in southern China.
"This flight will enable more China tourists to come to Sarawak. I hope more airlines will come in to improve not only the mobility but also the relationship between China and Malaysia, especially Sarawak," he said.
