SIBU:The number of travellers and visitors from Singapore and overseas to Sarawak is expected to increase following the start of the AirAsia flights from Singapore to Sibu.
"In the months to come, with the Singapore-Sibu flights, we anticipate the number of travellers and visitors coming from Singapore and overseas to Sarawak will increase," said state Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin in welcoming 180 passengers for the inaugural flight from Singapore at Sibu Airport on Friday (Dec 16).
The Singapore-Sibu sector is the third one after Kuching and Miri.
Lee said although the number of visitors from Singapore to Sarawak has decreased due to the Covid-19 pandemic especially in 2020 and 2021, Sarawak had received 46,340 passengers from January to September 2022 through the Singapore-Sarawak flights to Kuching and Miri.
"We all know that Singapore is a significant regional and international hub for finance and business.
“This route from Sibu as well as from Kuching and Miri to Singapore will allow for direct access to the local business community. This will provide a lucrative market for our agriculture, fisheries and local food products," he said.
The republic, he said, is also one of the state's key trading partners.
Sarawak’s exports to Singapore in 2021 was at RM1.28bil compared with only RM1bil in 2020. Imports from the republic increased to RM1.7bil in 2021 compared with RM1.17bil in 2020, he said.
AirAsia operates the Singapore-Sibu-Singapore sector four times weekly on every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.
