KOTA KINABALU: Korean tourists topped the number of international visitor arrivals to Sabah between January and April this year, said state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Christina Liew.
Based on records from Sabah Tourism Board's (STB) Research Division, 68,685 Korean travellers arrived in Sabah versus 720 arrivals from January to April in 2022, an increase of 9,439.6 per cent.
Sabah reopened its international borders on April 1 last year after shutting it for two years during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Presently, there are seven Jin Air weekly flights from Incheon to Kota Kinabalu, and this will be increased from next month onwards.
"Basically, it is bilateral tourism cooperation," she said in a statement after a courtesy call by a delegation from Jin Air and Seoul Travel Industry Cooperative.
Starting from June 29 up to the first week of September this year, there will be two flights per day said the airline's Kota Kinabalu Airport Office Station Manager, JeongHoon Park.
"At the same time, we plan to upgrade the existing Jin Air aircraft flying the Incheon-KK route from B737-800 (with a capacity of 189 seats) to B777-200 (with a capacity of 393 seats)."
Also present at the event was STB Deputy Chief Executive Officer Tay Shu Lan.