KUCHING: Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing urged local airlines to introduce charter flights for international and domestic travel to and fro East Malaysia.
He said, AirAsia and other airlines should look into the suggestion because foreign tourists, including from China, like to travel to and make Malaysia a preferred destination.
“It is hoped that the existence of charter flights can help promote Malaysia more effectively, especially for Sabah and Sarawak, which are rich in cultural and natural heritage,” he said in his Facebook post today.
As the airline industry is also important in the tourism sector, Tiong appealed to flight service staff to treat passengers with friendliness and courtesy, as a step to help promote the development of the country’s tourism industry.
“Likewise with hotel operators or any type of accommodation, it is necessary to be friendly and provide the best services to tourists.
“Only good services can attract more foreign tourists,” he said.
Touching on AirAsia’s initiative to introduce five million free flight tickets to domestic and foreign destinations, Tiong said he welcomed the initiative.
“In addition to being a key player in supporting our country’s tourism industry over the years, AirAsia also plays an important role in connecting Malaysia with the aviation network in Asean and other regions,” he said.
Ticket reservations are open from Feb 10-19 for travelling period between March 1 and Dec 10.
