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Musa performing the launching ceremony flanked by (left to right) Rudhito, Fernandez, Tengku Adlin, Masidi and Iliyas
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3rd May, 2008
KOTA KINABALU: Airasia gets the much deserved commendation for its move to strengthen Sabah’s regional connectivity as part of its Asean integration plan by expanding the low cost airline’s international route to Bali and Jakarta.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman congratulated Airasia on its dual international route launch from the city and believed he shared the sentiments of many Sabahans that the launch to two destinations in Indonesia would further boost tourism industry in the state and also to both countries.
“Today (May 2) is another memorable day for the people of Sabah as we welcome the first flight from Kota Kinabalu to Bali as well as to celebrate Airasia’s flight from the city to Jakarta which commenced services on March 30,” he said at the launching ceremony at Pacific Sutera Harbour yesterday.
In the last six years, he said, Airasia was seen to grow from a two-plane operation to an award-winning airline with 67 aircraft operating 100 routes with 56 destinations, and was recognised as Asia’s leading low fare airline.
Musa said the aviation sector played a critical role in boosting the state’s efforts to see better growth in tourism. Sabah is strategically located in a three-hour flight radius which could bring in a potential 77.1 million travellers.
“Within a six-hour flying time radius, there are 139.4 million potential tourists. These figures do not include the 34.5 million international visitor arrivals at four major regional hubs – Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok,” he said.
Musa said on that note, they welcomed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s announcement at the launch of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) that the aviation sector would be liberalised in Sabah for it to be developed as a premier destination.
The Prime Minister had also said that the government would facilitate applications of airlines that were interested in flying to destinations in the state and that would surely boost visitor arrivals, he said.
“It is not easy to attract tourists from far-flung destinations without better air connectivity, as too many transits and flights to reach Sabah could serve as a turn off for potential travellers despite the many products we have on offer.”
He said Airasia had supported the need for more air linkages to the state by improving connectivity between Peninsular Malaysia and international routes to Sabah through introduction of new routes and added frequencies.
The Chief Minister said Airasia’s arrival to the state had indeed opened various economic and business opportunities. It has shown some significant changes within the economic and social development context, particularly in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau.
“Now with five international routes from the hub, namely Macau, Clark (Manila), Shenzhen, Jakarta and Bali, I am confident that Airasia will contribute greatly to the growth of the socio-economic and tourism development in the state,” he said.
Musa said Sabah held a strong reputation as a land of natural eco-treasures and diverse ethnicity. Its economy had diversified over the decades with the tourism sector playing a critical role in increasing revenue and providing job opportunities.
“Tourism is already the third highest contributor to the state’s economy after agriculture and manufacturing. And we are seeing a positive trend in visitor arrivals, with a compounded annual growth rate of 17.2 percent over the last five years compared to the national average of 7.2 percent in the same period.
“Under the SDC blueprint, tourism has been identified as one of the key drivers of the services sector and supports a vision to make Sabah one of the most liveable places in Asia by 2025,” he said.
To achieve their hopes and aspirations in the tourism sector, he said they would continue to lay foundations for the future growth and this would include promoting the arts and culture scene, for which the state was gaining a reputation.
Musa said they would also bank on the premier eco-adventure destinations such as Danum Valley and Maliau Basin without sacrificing conservation concerns and turn the state into a metropolis within a tropical paradise.
Also present were Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Masidi Manjun, Kota Kinabalu mayor Datuk Iliyas Ibrahim, Airasia Group CEO Datuk Tony Fernandez, Indonesia Airasia CEO Bapak Dharmadi, Indonesia acting consulate general Rudhito Widagdo and Sabah Tourism Board chairman Tengku Datuk Seri Zainal Adlin.
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