Royal Brunei Airlines Re-introduces Direct Flights To Kuching

KUCHING (Sarawak), Dec 29 (Bernama) -- Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) is doing a big favour to Sarawak's tourism industry by re-commencing and providing connectivity to Kuching with twice weekly flights, starting last Friday. State Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah in thanking RB for the service, said connectivity had been the biggest hurdle in his ministry’s effort to drive the state’s tourism industry to greater height. “It has been a challenge, but the ministry has given it a top priority to address the issue with more aggressive efforts being planned to bring in airlines and charters into the state,” Abdul Karim said at a luncheon held in conjunction with the re-commencement of RB’s Bandar Seri Begawan-Kuching flight at a local hotel here Saturday. Nevertheless, the minister said all those efforts required full cooperation from tourism industry players because without their support, the industry would not thrive. “It is our greatest ambition to ensure that the tourism sector and its supporting services will be one of the strongest and major contributor to the state’s gross national product (GNP) for the years to come with the economic spin-off be felt by all throughout the state. “With this direct flight, we also look forward to strengthen our Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) segments particularly in the Brunei market,” he added. Meanwhile, RB Chief Commercial Officer, Martin Aeberli said the Bandar Seri Begawan-Kuching connectivity mark a historical moment for both sides, as Kuching was one of the first destinations where RB flew to back in 1975. “We are extremely delighted to reconnect the beautiful city of Kuching to the rest of our network and provide the missing link to Brunei once again,” said Martin. Martin also pointed that the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed by RB with Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) last month would help maximise tourism opportunity for both Brunei and Sarawak as it was aimed to stimulate the inflow of visitors between Brunei and Kuching and provide a vital link to connect to a wider region in the island of Borneo via RB's network.  Martin said the two weekly flights from Brunei to Kuching would be serviced by RB's A320 aircraft and would be increased to four weekly flights from Feb 3, 2019.  With just one hour 15 minutes flight duration, it means a quick transfer between the two destinations and more time enjoying the many sights and attraction on offer. Also present was STB chief executive officer, Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor. For more information, visit www.flyroyalbrunei.com. -- BERNAMA