KOTA KINABALU – Sabah Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin held a meeting yesterday with Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs Sim Ann, in which they discussed expanding direct flights between the Borneo state and the island republic, among other things.
In particular, the meeting held at the Foreign Affairs Ministry office in Singapore saw Jafry bounce the idea of more connections established between Changi Airport and Sabah’s east coast towns.
He proposed that Singapore’s airline companies introduce direct flights to Sandakan and Tawau’s airports.
Speaking upon his return here today, he said the move would boost the tourism sector in the two districts.
The state would promote its various popular tourist destinations there such as Pulau Sipadan, which is famous for its natural diving sites, and the Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre.
“The ministry will also propose this to airline companies to add more flight routes soonest.
“This initiative will help increase the number of tourists not only from Singapore, but also other countries as Changi Airport is one of the main airports in Asia,” he said in a statement today.
Also present were the Sabah ministry’s permanent secretary Datuk Yusrie Abdullah, and Sabah Tourism Board executive officer Noredah Othman.
The state ministry through the Sabah Tourism Board is also actively conducting business-to-business and business-to-customer activities in efforts to promote Sabah to international tourists.
Jafry said he is confident that direct flights will boost tourism prospects and increase demand in the sector.
On April 29, Singapore’s low-cost carrier Scoot resumed flights to Kota Kinabalu, becoming the first international airline to land in Sabah since the Covid-19 pandemic forced the borders to be closed two years ago.
Scoot Flight TR492 touched down at Kota Kinabalu International Airport at about 9pm on Friday, carrying 150 passengers, most of whom were Westerners.
In June last year, Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor had agreed during a virtual meeting with Singaporean High Commissioner to Malaysia Vanu Gopala Menon to set up a Sabah trade and tourism office in Singapore to promote bilateral economic potential.
He also invited Singaporean investors to look at opportunities under the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan focusing on high impact investments, particularly in the agricultural and tourism sectors. – The Vibes, June 10, 2022
