KUCHING: Sarawak expects to welcome more tourists from China following the launch of a direct flight from Shenzhen, with more routes planned.
The inaugural Loong Air chartered flight landed at Kuching International Airport at 12.15pm yesterday with 85 passengers, who received a traditional welcome from the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and other state agencies.
State Transport Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Wong Hee Sieng said the flight is scheduled to operate every Tuesday, departing Shenzhen at 8.20am and Kuching at 7.55pm.
The first return flight to Shenzhen carried 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 indicated its plans to introduce direct flights from Hangzhou and Guangzhou to Kuching starting next March.
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 vigorous promotion in China, as we would like to welcome more Chinese tourists.
“Hopefully, we can also encourage more airlines, not only from China but also other countries, to fly here,” he added.
China’s 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 easily between both cities.
