Guangzhou-Tawau Flights To Boost Tourist Arrivals

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia) April 17 (Bernama) -- The Guangzhou-Tawau charter flights scheduled for a year from July are looked upon as the launch of the effort to increase the number of tourist arrivals in the Sabah east coast. Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Christina Liew said Wednesday the twice-weekly flights operated by Dongfang International Travel Service, a tour company in Guangzhou, will bring up to 324 tourists a week from China to Tawau, Sabah in the B737-800 aircraft of Hainan Airlines. Tawau will have to make the necessary preparations requested by Dongfang, such as providing facilities at the airport, she told a press conference here. Liew, who is also a Sabah deputy chief minister, said the Sabah Tourism Board will provide suitable travel packages for Tawau as well as Semporna and Lahad Datu. She also said that Sandakan will be promoted aggressively in view of the flights. This is in line with the commitment of the ministry to increase the tourist arrivals to the Sabah east coast, especially Tawau and Sandakan, she said, adding that it is to meet the targeted four million tourist arrivals to Sabah this year. -- BERNAMA