亚航今年6月开辟古晋直飞新加坡及文莱航班！

PS3FAN2005

AirAsia links Kuching to new destinations
By Samuel Aubrey

KUCHING: The end is now in sight for the air connectivity problem which has hindered the state’s tourism industry, following the introduction of new direct international flights to Kuching starting this month.



LUCKY WINNER: Wong (left) presenting the ultimate prize of a free air ticket to Perth, Australia to Saibi Gi from Utusan Borneo. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapha

Low-cost carrier AirAsia started its Kuching-Jakarta flight Tuesday, and it will also kick off Kuching-Bali flight on May 2, and fly the Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan and Kuching-Singapore routes in June.

This was announced by Urban Development and Tourism Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh at the media night organised by Sarawak Tourism Board and Sarawak Conventions Bureau Tuesday night at a restaurant here.

“With these direct flights, we can attract more foreign tourists to come to Sarawak,” he said.

In thanking AirAsia, he said the new flights especially to Indonesia allowed the state tourism sector players to tap into the new market especially the large expatriate community in Jakarta and Bali.

“For example from Bali there are a lot of Australian tourists, we can work with the tour operators in such a way that the tourists can have an extension to Kuching through the direct flight. Likewise in Jakarta, we can tap into the large expatriate community there.

“With these new flights, there is going to be a more open sky (for us),” he said.

The minister also hoped that national carrier Malaysia Airlines would also introduce international flights from Kuching apart from servicing domestic flights including the flights within Sarawak which is operated by its subsidiary MasWings.

He also thanked Royal Brunei Airlines (RBA) for promoting Sarawak particularly Kuching after it resumed its Kuching-Bandar Seri Begawan direct flight beginning Dec 1 last year.

To ensure that these international and regional flights could be sustained, he urged local travel agents and tour operators to help attract visitors by promoting attractive packages to ensure good passenger load.

“Our main drawback has always been the connectivity - how we can connect ourselves to the rest of the world not just physically but also in terms of reaching out to the resources of the other parts of the world and how we can work together with others in other countries,” he said.

He pointed out that Sarawak in a way was latecomer in the global tourism industry which was becoming more competitive with all countries trying their best to promote their own attractions.

“Tourism industry is a growing industry, and I think countries throughout the world are trying their best to promote tourism. It has become very competitive and at times it is difficult to compete against those with more resources and longer history,” he said.

Wong thanked the local media for the good work done in promoting Sarawak through newspaper write ups and magazine publications.

“On behalf of the ministry, I would like to thank our friends from the media who disseminate information and provide good promotion for our tourism products by devoting a page or two on our tourist attractions - jungle resorts, beach resorts and homestay programmes,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sarawak Conventions Bureau chief operating officer Jill Henry said she was happy with the publicity coverage by the local media.

“In Australia (her home country), we had to beg and plead with the journalists to come and cover events. So to come to Sarawak to see the journalists here very receptive, it is very satisfying experience,” she said.

STB chief executive officer Gracie Geikie said the working relationship with the local media had been very close. Sarawak Tourism Federation president Wee Hong Seng was also present.

Unlike the usual media night which entertainment usually provided by singers and musical bands, this one had a special appearance by acclaimed yet controversial Comedy Court duo who left the crowd in stitches with their funny and satirical portrayal of Malaysian political and social scene.

新闻来源：The Borneo Post Online

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黄顺舸：亚航增加国际航线，为砂带来更多外国游客

　　（古晋2日讯）第二财长兼砂州城市发展与旅游部长拿督斯里黄顺舸透露，从5月2日起，亚航将推展古晋枢纽来返印尼巴厘岛服务，同时于今年6月12日，亚航也将新增古晋枢纽来返汶莱斯里柏嘉湾城市，及古晋来返新加坡的国际新航线服务。

　　他指出，目前更多的航班也将会飞往砂州，而且从本月1日起，亚航也已推展古晋来返印尼雅加达的航线，每星期3趟分别是星期二，四，六出发。

　　他深信，随著国内外的航线扩增，新增的国际航线将能够为本州带来更多外国游客，因此他们也可以透过亚航的新增航线到访本州。

　　“因此，砂州将可招来更多的游客，进而进一步拓展州内的旅游业。”

　　砂州第二副财长兼城市发展与旅游部长拿督斯里黄顺舸于昨晚受邀出席由该部门联同砂拉越旅游局、砂拉越会议局举办的“2008年媒体之夜”，上台致词时如是表示。

　　他也透露，飞翼航空将后也会增加更多砂州内陆的航线。

　　因此，他是希望本州的旅游业能够共同合作，继续扩增国际及本地航线，以让州内的国际及区域性的航线能够持续下去。

　　拿督斯里黄顺舸表示，旅游业是一个持续成长的领域，而且全球各个国家也都在竞争，欲成为著名的旅游景点，因此，砂州其实很难与那些拥有丰富资源、历史悠久的国家竞争。

　　他指出，虽然砂州的旅游业的起步较慢，但他认为，迟来者也是个优势，因为砂州拥有丰富独特资源，所以对很多外国游客而言还是充满新鲜感。

　　有鉴于此，他也希望通过媒体的报导，将砂州推向世界各地，同时他也呼吁与鼓励媒体能够多写专题，有系统的针对本州一些旅游产品作出报导，例如度假村、森林、沙滩、文化、探险、大自然等，从而推广砂州的旅游业。

　　此外，他也感谢本地媒体在旅游业方面一直提供的协助，而不仅是在宣传，也使一些州内的旅游区成为主要的旅游景点，更把砂州推向世界各地。

新闻来源：国际时报