KUCHING: Sarawak is capitalising on its cordial bilateral relationship with Indonesia to bring more flights into the state from various destinations.
Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the main objective of having more airlines plying between Kuching and other Indonesian destinations such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and Medan is to provide healthy competition with the aim to reduce ceiling pricing of flights.
“In economic terms, having substitutes or alternative routes will gradually diminish the might and monopoly of ‘excess demand over supply’ to the extent that cost will contract,” he said.
“Before anyone else does, we now can tap this big tourism potential market from our next most immediate neighbour in view of the large population and ongoing relocation of Indonesia’s new capital to Nusantara, Kalimantan.
“As such, we should capitalise on the existing cordial bilateral relationship that we have to further enhance intra-country cooperation,” he said.
Earlier, Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the state government welcomes airlines which are interested to add or open new routes from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali and Medan to Sarawak.
Snowdan said the direct impact of more flights coming to Sarawak will boost the state’s tourism sector.
He also said medical tourism could also see a surge inflow in view of the medical facilities available in the state.
“With more flights coming into Sarawak, it means increased connectivity and access to activities. This entails more landing rights and ground works especially at the airports and immigration.
“Entry of new airlines will also create job opportunities such as management, flight and ground crews among others. Furthermore, cargo, transportation and hotel businesses will have an immediate impact,” he said.
