KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) has urged both the Federal and state governments to strive to boost the number of international flights for Sabah, to pre-pandemic level.
Urging this, its President Tan Sri T.C Goh underscored that this is crucial towards stimulating and expediting recovery of various sectors of the state economy,
He pointed out that, prior to Covid-19 pandemic, there were a total of 236 international flights from 22 countries flying to and fro the Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA). However, currently only five countries have resumed direct flights to Sabah, and obviously much needs to be done still, in order to improve the situation.
He thus welcomed and supported the state government’s recent announcement that it would, through the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) to boost the number of direct international flights to Sabah, to the pre-pandemic stage, of over 200 flights daily.
Goh who is also a member of the Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) expressed this in a statement issued today, while commenting on the recent statement by Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai that currently there are 40 weekly direct international flights into Sabah, with South Korea having the highest frequency (17) followed by Singapore (14), Brunei (four), Thailand (three), and Philippines (two).
Goh thus hoped the Federal government could provide necessary assistance to the Sabah government, to expedite the return of both domestic and international flights to Sabah.
He especially supported Bangkuai’s statement that the state government would strive to facilitate the resumption of direct flights from Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan and China which have been temporarily suspended following the pandemic.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) also hoped that the recent statement by Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister Wang Yi, that both China and Malaysia planned for a significant increase in the number of direct flights between the two countries, would be implemented, as soon as possible, so as to benefit the people of the two nations in bilateral trade, education and tourism sectors.
Goh reckoned that such a move would certainly benefit Sabah, citing the fact that prior to the pandemic, Chinese tourists had been among the main contributors to Sabah tourism industry.
He also described the Air Busan recently re launched of its previously suspended direct flight from Busan, bringing 220 passengers to Sabah, as a ‘good sign’ for recovery of Sabah tourism, post pandemic.
He also hoped that both the Federal and state governments could strive together to further boost the current number of 372 domestic flights into Sabah, in order to stimulate domestic tourism.
Besides this, he also hoped the Federal government could continue to closely monitor the airfares for domestic flights, between Peninsula Malaysia and east Malaysian states of Sabah and Sarawak, to ensure that they are affordable to the people, especially during festive seasons.-pr/BNN
