Direct flights between KK, Beijing to commence before CNY

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun (left) said that the Chinese Consul-General in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, is helping finalise plans for the direct air link between the two cities. (Pix by Mohd Adam Arinin)

KOTA KINABALU: Direct commercial flights between the state capital here and Beijing, China are expected to commence before Chinese New Year next year.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that the Chinese Consul-General in Kota Kinabalu, Liang Caide, is helping finalise plans for the direct air link between the two cities.

"(This demonstrates that) China is confident in the capability of Sabah to offer tourism products to its people.

"(And) the state government is grateful for China's cooperation in making the scheduled flight happen," he said, adding that discussions are being held with Xiamen Airlines to service the route.

Masidi was speaking after the 11th Sabah Tourism Awards here on Saturday.

Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) is the second busiest in the country, with 84 weekly flights from China.

Next year, KKIA will welcome three new scheduled flights from Chengdu, Changsha and Tianjin in China, as well as numerous chartered flights from the country.

As Sabah is expecting more tourists from Beijing, which has a population of 22 million, concerns are being raised over the availability of accommodations.

Masidi has urged banks to facilitate investment in hotel construction, especially of four and five-star hotels, to cater to the rising number of Chinese tourists.

As of October this year, Sabah welcomed 363,977 tourist from China.

-nst online.