KOTA KINABALU: Tourist arrivals from China to Sabah recorded an increase of 55.8 per cent in the first four months compared to same period last year.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said that last year, there were 75,451 tourist arrivals from the republic while this year, the number haa shot up to 117,569 arrivals.
Arrivals from other Asian countries such as Taiwan also showed an increase (34.8 per cent), while Korea recorded a 33.4 per cent jump in the same period.
"More frequent direct flights to here have significantly contributed to the increased number of tourists arrivals to the state," he told a press conference on Jeju Air's inaugural flight from Incheon, Seoul to Kota Kinabalu here last night.
Also present were Sabah Tourism Board chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai and Jeju Air vice-president Lee Seok Joo.