KOTA KINABALU, 27 June 2022: Korea is poised to become a key contributor to Sabah’s visitor arrivals with the resumption of Air Busan direct flight from Seoul to Kota Kinabalu.

Air Busan is the second Korean-based low-cost airline to resume direct flights from the Korean Capital to Kota Kinabalu post-Covid-19 pandemic after Jin Air on 26 May.

The third airline Jeju Air is expected will restart direct flights to Sabah on 29 June. For the time being, all three airlines will depart via Incheon.

The Air Busan BX 767 flight from Incheon International Airport with 196 passengers on board arrived at the KKIA at about 2310 and was greeted with a water cannon salute.

Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister cum Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai was on hand to greet the passengers, all Korean tourists.

Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman and KKIA Senior Airport Manager Sunif Naiman were also present to distribute welcome souvenirs courtesy of the Sabah Tourism.

“With the arrival of Korean airlines in Sabah, we are seeing a slight improvement in Korean arrivals. Koreans’ willingness and confidence to return to Sabah is a great indication for us.

“While we want to promote Sabah to international visitors, we also want to encourage locals to take advantage of this direct flight and explore Korea,” said Joniston.

Air Busan currently operates two weekly flights to Kota Kinabalu, on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Another Korean low-cost airline, Jeju Air, is expected to restart direct flights to Sabah on 29 June. For the time being, all three airlines will depart via Incheon.

Joniston and Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman visited Seoul in early May to meet with airlines in Korea along with top officials from Jin Air, Air Busan and Jeju Air. They also held discussions with top Korean travel companies Mode Tour and Hana Tour.

For more information visit www.sabahtourism.com.

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)

KUALA LUMPUR: Uzbekistan is keen on working with tourism players in Sabah to learn more about the travel market and make it more likely for people from both sides to visit each other.

Uzbekistan’s ambassador to Malaysia Ravshan Usmanov believed Sabah’s stunning natural environment and ocean would stimulate the interest of Uzbek citizens, who are currently considering Langkawi as their preferred destination in Malaysia to visit.

“Uzbeks rely on Langkawi, but it’s time for Sabah to promote itself. The sea and landscape in Sabah are unique. The seafood is some of the best I’ve had in the country.

“We are a land country, which is why our people love the sea. That is what we need,” he told delegates from the Sabah Tourism Board and Malaysia Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), here.

On Monday, Sabah Tourism, led by its chairman and Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, and MATTA, led by its president Datuk Tan Kok Liang, paid a courtesy call to Usmanov at the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Malaysia.

The discussion was on the prospects for bilateral tourism cooperation. Also present were Sabah Tourism’s Chief Marketing Officer Tay Shu Lan and Marketing Manager Zarinah Amiludin.

“I believe that our products complement one another. We sell tourism centred on history, architecture, and religion. We should consider a familiarisation tour to share our knowledge.

“I’m also of the opinion that we should hold online B2B sessions with MATTA tour companies and Sabah travel operators soon,” Usmanov added, inviting Malaysian tourism players to the Tashkent International Tourism Fair in November.

As for Sabah’s interest in fostering closer ties with Uzbekistan, Joniston stated the state is eager to assist in bringing Uzbek citizens to the state and vice versa.

“We recently met with Uzbekistan-based tour operator Osmon Aero and were delighted to learn that they are keen on introducing charter flights connecting Tashkent and Kota Kinabalu. We want to collaborate more closely on this.

“Aside from tourism, Sabah’s most important economic pillars are agriculture and manufacturing. This might be a wonderful investment opportunity for Uzbekistan as well,” he said.

Osmon Aero and Malaysia Airlines have inked an agreement to launch Kuala Lumpur-Tashkent-Kuala Lumpur charter flights in July.

In the meeting, Tan invited Uzbekistan tourism players to participate in the forthcoming national MATTA Fair from Sept 2-4 to tap into the direct consumer market and create more awareness for Malaysian holidaymakers to visit Uzbekistan.

“This destination has a wealth of cultural products tied to the historic Silk Road and Muslim travel. We will undoubtedly encourage tour operators to participate in the Tashkent travel fair to tap into this potential market.

“We are thrilled to observe that the first charter flight from Uzbekistan to Malaysia is already fully booked. We need to reciprocate by offering an efficient marketing platform to promote Uzbekistan as an emerging tourism destination,” he said.

For more information visit: www.sabahtourism.com

(Your Stories: Sabah Tourism Board)