KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is hoping Singapore Airlines will look into the prospects of mounting direct flights to Sandakan and Tawau in the near future.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said having direct flights from the republic will help boost the tourism sector of the two east coast towns.
Jafry proposed this to Senior Minister of State for National Development and Foreign Affairs, Sim Ann during a meeting at Singapore's Foreign Affairs Building yesterday.
The minister was accompanied by state Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Yusrie Abdullah, Sabah Tourism Board chief executive officer Noredah Othman and several senior officers.
"The direct flights will enable foreign tourists to visit attractions in the east coasts more easily such as Sipadan Island, Sepilok Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre and many more," he said.
He said the state Tourism Ministry will send a proposal to the airlines in the hope that they will consider introducing the new routes.
As Changi Airport is one of the major aviation hubs in Asia, Jafry believes the initiative will not only boost tourist arrivals from Singapore but also from other foreign countries.
To woo more international tourists to the state, the Sabah Tourism Board has also conducted business to business and business to customer sessions with travel agents and clients in the republic.