Fernandes says airline will also create more jobs for Sarawakians
KUCHING: Low-cost AirAsia has given the thumbs-up to Sarawak’s domestic tourism development efforts.
AirAsia Bhd Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes said AirAsia is now looking for new places to promote and bring more tourists and create job opportunities, especially in Kuching, Miri and Sibu.
He also lauded Sarawak for having done a good job in promoting domestic tourism.
Fernandes revealed that the airline had brought about 16 million people to Sarawak since its establishment 18 years ago.
“This year, our flights (to Sarawak) increased by 43 per cent which brought about 70,000 people from different countries via Kuala Lumpur,” he told reporters following a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at his office in Wisma Bapa Malaysia, yesterday.
Fernandes said he had heard a lot about Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg’s plans to increase investment in tourism infrastructure statewide.
“Read about the CM’s plan to invest in tourism infrastructure and came (here) to learn what the plans are — medical tourism, etc. We want to expand more flights (from Sarawak) into Indonesia.
“Firstly, we have one successful international route, that is, Pontianak, from where a lot of medical tourism comes … which is why we want to increase flights to Indonesia.
“On airports, it is not just a Sarawak issue but everywhere that we (consumers) need low-cost terminals and cheaper facilities to develop tourism. (But) that is out of everyone’s hands, and we just have to hope that something happens soon,” he said.
He said AirAsia hopes for more low-cost terminal and cheaper facilities to develop tourism in Sarawak, adding that if the airline gets low-cost airports, then the tourism industry will boom.
On the high airport tax, Fernandes said: “I still think the airport tax is very high – RM50. Kuching to China the airport tax was RM75, previously. Now, it’s RM50, we still think it’s too high.
“Thus, we want to reinvest … we want (to offer) our partner – the Sarawak government – a win-win deal, and we also hope for some assistance with the airport.”
He revealed that during the visit, the two parties also talked about logistics and e-commerce as well as the potential of selling Sarawak food products around Asia.
“With the successful opening of the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office in Singapore (Statos), we see a lot of potential on two platforms — our shop and Teleport —to enable many Sarawak entrepreneurs to sell their products to a much larger market.
“Thus, we need help … we need promotional materials … we need to know the plans for the infrastructure development,” he said, adding that the news about new road being built from Miri to Mulu, national parks and diving sites in the state are giving AirAsia a lot of encouragement.
He also mentioned that the AirAsia team led by AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat would work with the Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to sell Sarawak’s tilapia fish.
At the same time, Tony said that he would continue to fight for low-cost terminals.
“The airports are under the federal government and I believe the Transport Minister Anthony Loke is working on something,” he said.
When asked on Abang Johari’s views on the matter, he stated that every chief minister wanted more tourists and better airports.
“But the airports are controlled by Malaysia Airports Berhad (MAB). My argument has always been that MAB is only interested in Kuala Lumpur. Hopefully, Abang Johari would speak to the federal government on this matter,” he said.
Also present during the courtesy visit was Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; AirAsia Group head of global affairs, policy and government relations, Shasha Ridzam; AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat; head of strategy and business development for AirAsia.com, Zaman Ahmad; and director of government relations of AirAsia, Zamani Rafique.
