SIBU: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) handled 8,000 visitor arrivals in just two hours on the first day of the Chinese New Year.
Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who disclosed this, said there were 6,500 arrivals through KLIA and 1,500 at KLIA2 on Tuesday.
“This happened in just two hours. We are, however, still waiting for the official data,” he told reporters at his Chinese New Year open house at Pulau Li Hua yesterday.
He said due to the surge in tourist arrivals, luxury hotels in Kuala Lumpur were enjoying full occupancy.
“The five- and four-star hotels especially are fully booked,” he added.
Tiong, who is also the Dudong assemblyman, thanked the people, especially his constituents, for supporting the event.
Meanwhile, the traditional sape added a unique cultural touch at the open house here, offering a refreshing break from the norm.
Sape player Sii Tai Hing, 68, a native of Kanowit, captivated the audience with the Iban traditional musical instrument more commonly associated with the Gawai Dayak celebration.
He performed at the entrance of the open house celebrations at Pulau Li Hua Commercial Centre, which attracted over 10,000 guests of various races.
Chinese New Year open houses are typically synonymous with lion dance performances and the rhythmic beating of gongs and drums, making Sii’s appearance a distinctive highlight.
He said he was asked to perform after the Sarawak Veterans Armour Association received an invitation from the organiser.
“Being an active sape player, I took the opportunity to perform here,” he said, adding that the loud drumbeats from the lion dance performances did not affect his presentation.
“Next time I will bring a bigger loudspeaker,” quipped the former soldier.
