More direct flights to Sabah

By Olivia Miwil
Pictures by Mohd Adam Arinin.

KOTA KINABALU: The state government is beefing up efforts to bring in more direct flights from China and Taiwan to boost the tourism industry.

Assistant Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Pang Yuk Ming said they were currently working with several airlines to bring in direct flights from Chengdu, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Taiwan.

“On our part, we are encouraged by airlines who have indicated their confidence in Sabah's tourism potential.

“The 2016 budget announcement on the implementation of e-visas for seven countries, including China will also bring great impact on the industry,” he said after the launching of the two-day 18th Sabah Hospitality Fiesta here yesterday.

The electronic visa application , which will be launched by mid of next year, is also applicable to India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, United States and Canada.

Pang said tourists from China were keen on the convenience of  enjoying shorter waiting time for visas rather than the cost of application documents.

He said the e-visas were an incentive for chartered flights to here to be booked few hours before the departure time.   

Earlier, Pang said the fiesta had proved that local participants had higher standard in culinary skills compared with previous years.

“We can expect them to do better in future and it is a good opportunity for young bumiputeras (to earn good incomes in the industry),” he said, elaborating that the locals were more interested in hospitality rather than other fields such as agricultural.

More than 300 participants from various hotels and culinary colleges took part in the two-day fiesta.

There are 18 competition classes including culinary, housekeeping, Food  and Beverage services as well as stewarding.

On another development, he announced three four-star hotels to be set up in the state capital next year to accommodate the increase number of tourists in the state.

As of August this year, China tourists excluding those from Taiwan made up of 26 per cent out of 673, 518 international arrivals.

  

Comments