KUALA LUMPUR: Sarawak is poised to become a popular destination for both domestic and international travellers following the formation of a year-long partnership between the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) to promote the state as a tourist destination in 2022.
The MoU entails the marketing and promoting events between STB, Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Firefly, MASwings and MHholidays.
Both organisations will also work together on inter-organisational partnerships for Sarawak tourism activities, corporate social responsibility activities, and other collaborative opportunities.
The collaboration was formalised today via signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) by STB chief executive officer Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor and MAG group chief marketing and customer experience officer Lau Yin May.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak minister Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, who is also Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak minister, STB chairman Dennis Ngau and MAG group chief executive officer Captain Izham Ismail.
"Connectivity and accessibility are important elements to enhance the travel experience and position Sarawak as a leading destination for eco-tourism in the ASEAN region," Abdul Karim said in a statement today.
He said the Sarawak state disaster management committee has just announced recently that the state has approved more domestic flight frequencies into Sarawak from 307 flights to 562 flights per week, effective from 14 January 2022.
"We look forward to seeing more direct routes from West Malaysia and to more parts of Sarawak soon," he said.
Sharzede said as a sign of STB's commitment to revitalise and re-energise Sarawak's local tourism industry, the agency is pleased to sign this MoU with MAG.
"MAS will not only be Sia Sitok Sarawak Plus' official airline but also have MAB, Firefly, MASwings and MHholidays on board as our strategic partners on future marketing campaigns in promoting Sarawak's tourism activities and cultural events.
"Most importantly, through this collaboration between STB and MAG, there will be an increase of connectivity into Sarawak, with more direct flights from Penang, Johor and Kuala Lumpur to look forward to," she said.
Captain Izham Ismail said over the past year, MAS, Firefly and MASwings have worked on improving connectivity to and within Sarawak, with the commencement of direct flights from Penang to Kuching, and increased frequencies between Miri-Sibu-Bintulu that will provide greater mobility to the state and further reinvigorate domestic tourism in Sarawak.
"We look forward to welcoming our customers to fly 'Sia Sitok' with us and experience our enhanced products and services with a range of flexibility and choices, seamless connectivity and contactless end-to-end journey while keeping our utmost priority and commitment to safety.
Together, the three airlines under MAG offer strong value propositions to the state of Sarawak – with better services, convenience and reliability.
In conjunction with the event, STB also launched its Sia Sitok Sarawak Plus interstate travel campaign to allow travellers to visit Sarawak through its main tourism gateways, namely Kuching, Sibu and Miri, with MAS as the official airline.
Customers can enjoy attractive hotel and flight packages via MHholidays, the airline's tour operating arm and choose from the list of participating hotels, including New World Suites in Bintulu, The Waterfront Hotel in Kuching, Grand Palace Hotel in Miri, RH Hotel in Sibu, for their well-deserved staycation.
"Sarawak is blessed with exciting wonders from culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals (or CANFF) which are unique to our state.
"We hope to attract local travellers to experience the hospitality of Sarawak through the Sia Sitok Sarawak Plus campaign and become our ambassadors to then share their experience with friends and family," Sharzede said.