Sarawak is eyeing a number of Chinese tourist arrivals to hit the target of 50,000 visitors next year, if the connectivity from China to Kuching, the capital of the largest state in Malaysia, is enhanced.
Sarawak Tourism Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said currently, the State Tourism Ministry was negotiating with several airline companies to establish non-stop flight routes from China to Kuching.
"Two Hong Kong-based airlines, namely Dragonair and Hong Kong Express Airways have expressed interest in launching direct flights from some Chinese cities, including Hong Kong, Shenzhen, to Kuching.
"...but we are still negotiating on that," he said, adding with better connectivity, it would encourage more Chinese tourists to visit Sarawak, the Land of the Hornbill.
He was speaking after launching the opening ceremony of Tourism Roadshow to China, here, Wednesday.
Currently, only connecting flights between Kuala Lumpur or Singapore and Kuching are available for the Chinese tourists.
Abang Johari expressed confidence that the Chinese tourist arrivals would surpass 40,000 people by year-end, given that the number of Chinese visitors increased to 42,183 visitors last year, from 35,390 in 2011.
He said from January to September this year, Sarawak had drawn some 31,611 Chinese tourist arrivals, a spike by 0.48 per cent as compared to the corresponding period last year.
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