KUCHING: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd (MAHB) has been urged to give immediate attention to all the airports – especially the run-down ones – in Sarawak.
The Kuching International Airport (KIA) requires a major facelift urgently.
Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) Sarawak chapter chairman Oscar Choo said it is necessary to upgrade the facilities, particularly at the main airports in Sarawak, if the state is to attract more direct flights and remain competitive in the region.
“Although Sarawak is a second tier destination, we have proven that we are a key destination for tourism, business and other major events.
“Thus, MAHB should not neglect the need to upgrade our airport facilities and make sure the facilities are well-maintained, convenient and user-friendly for all passengers,” he told New Sarawak Tribune today.
He was commenting on a Facebook post which went viral recently, complaining about the poor conditions of the KIA, with insufficient seats, poor lighting, and a cramped waiting area, which will not leave a good impression for travellers leaving Kuching or Sarawak.
Choo agreed that most of the facilities at the KIA are not of international standards while about half of the retail outlets remained closed.
Apart from that, he said the international departure process needs to be improved/changed as well, to ensure passengers have access to retail shops and other facilities.
Currently, he said, passengers using or waiting at the international departure hall do not have access to the food and beverage outlets as all the retail shops are all located at the domestic hall.
“So, the airport operator must look into this issue too,” he added.
Choo also urged MAHB to make sure more retail shops are active or open for business as they actually ‘give life’ to airports. In addition, passengers would normally do last minute purchases when they are waiting to board their flights.
“This can help to boost the economy and increase tourism receipts,” he said.
“The tourism industry is recovering at a healthy rate and it is crucial that our point of entries and exits show a good first impression and a memorable last impression for all travellers,” he added.
Some netizens have suggested that Sarawak should take back KIA and be managed by the state instead of MAHB, which is a federal government-linked company.
A Facebook user also commented that the lighting at the KIA departure hall is so dim and toilets are in ‘a state of limbo’ without toilet paper. There is also a lack of water vending machines for passengers to refill their bottles.
Another user claimed that the arrival hall is just as bad, with passengers having a hard time figuring out where the free bus (if any) and where the e-hailing services are while the car park needs more lights.
