KOTA KINABALU: Incheon-based Korean airline Jin Air saw a full planeload of passengers arriving in the state capital here last night, the first after Covid-19 all but wiped out flights with the East Asian nation.
Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the full flight was a positive indicator that Koreans are returning to spend their holidays here.
The flight carrying 185 passengers on board, including Jin Air branch manager Park Jeong Hoon, touched down at Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 10.45 pm and was given a water cannon salute.
Jafry, who welcomed the visitors with goodie bags, said they are confident that with the improved Covid-19 situation, Koreans would want to come to the state as they did in the past.
"Before the pandemic, we had 65 flights weekly from Korean cities to Sabah.
"We hope this circumstance will return and we look forward to (receiving tourists from) other destinations.
"Sabah will work together with (the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry) to boost visitor arrivals, which in return will have a positive economic impact on the local community."
The South Korean low-cost carrier with twice-weekly flights on Thursday and Sunday is the third foreign airline to resume direct flights to Kota Kinabalu after Singapore's Scoot and Royal Brunei Airlines.
Deputy Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Santhara Kumar Ramanaidu congratulated Sabah on its strong tourism development.
He said the ministry would continue to collaborate with the Sabah Tourism Board to promote Sabah and its new products to the Korean market.
"In 2019, we had over 600,000 Koreans visiting Malaysia with about 390,000 of them making their way to Sabah.
"This is an indication that Kota Kinabalu is an essential destination," he said.
Also present was state Assistant Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai; state Tourism Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Yusrie Abdullah; Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman and chief marketing officer Tay Shu Lan.
-nst online.
Welcome to Sabah, Malaysian Borneo Official Tourism Website (sabahtourism.com)
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