KOTA KINABALU: Several Korean-based airlines have expressed eagerness to resume direct flights to Kota Kinabalu in the coming months following the reopening of the country's international borders.
They conveyed their intentions to Sabah Assistant Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai who led a delegation from the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) on a series of engagements in Seoul on April 25-26.
The delegation met with top management officials from Jin Air, Air Busan, Jeju Air and Air Seoul, all of which were operating direct flights to Kota Kinabalu before the Covid-19 pandemic struck.
Also part of the delegation were STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman and chief marketing officer Tay Shu Lan.
The team had a meeting with top executives of two Korean leading tour companies, Hana Tour and Mode Tour, both of which have started marketing Sabah as a preferred destination.
Earlier, the STB team held a discussion with Tourism Malaysia Seoul director Shaharuddin Yahaya.
"We had a fruitful discussion with the airline operators expressing their hope to mount direct flights to Kota Kinabalu within the next two months," said Joniston who is also STB chairman.
The airline and tour companies also informed STB that based on feedback from Korean travellers, Sabah is among their top preferred holiday destinations.
They also expressed hope that the government would ease some of Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), especially the requirement for fully vaccinated travellers to take the RTK or PCR test upon arrival.
Since international borders reopened on April 1, Noredah said South Korea was the first country STB visited with a mission to hold engagement with airlines and tour companies.
During pre-pandemic times, the Kota Kinabalu International Airport received 67 weekly flights serviced by five carriers flying direct from Seoul, Busan and Muan in South Korea.
South Korea contributed the second most significant international arrivals to Sabah with 396,660 visitors in 2019.
"Korea is a key market for Sabah and we see the potential of more Koreans visiting our state post pandemic," said Noredah.
She said STB has maintained a strong relationship with the Korean-based airlines and tour companies even during the Covid-19 pandemic.
-nst online.
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