The proposal to construct a Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) here has received support from Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

He said an LCCT could help to facilitate the growth of the tourism industry in Sarawak.

“If a separate LCCT building could expedite and facilitate the growth of tourism industry in Sarawak, of course it would be good to have it.

“I do not have any detail on this yet. I need to check. If there is, it should be under the purview of the federal government unless the state government decides to be involved,” he said when contacted yesterday on AirAsia Berhad chief executive officer Aireen Omar’s recent statement that Kuching International Airport (KIA) had almost reached its capacity of five million passengers.

Abdul Karim said the ministry and other tourism industry players had to go the extra mile to ensure there are more flights for Sarawak.

“We have to work harder and bring in more flights and connectivity lest any buildings like this will come to waste and be a white elephant.

“Of course if we were to use present number of flights to and from Kuching as a guide, the present KIA is sufficient to handle the volume. But the state government and my ministry are hoping for an increase in tourist arrivals in the coming years. Thus the planning for an LCCT is appropriate.

“I am (in favour of an LCCT) if it could bring more benefits to Sarawak and the general public,” he said.

He added that Sarawak targeted to receive five million tourists this year compared to 4.6 million tourists last year.

According to Malaysia Airports’ website, KIA is capable of handling five million passengers per annum and is the fourth busiest airport in Malaysia, after Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kota Kinabalu International Airport, and Penang International Airport.

At present, AirAsia flies passengers from KIA to 10 destinations – Bintulu, Johor Bahru, Kota Bahru, Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Miri, Penang, Pontianak, Sibu and Singapore.

Malaysia Airlines has five destinations – Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Lumpur, Miri, Singapore, and Penang (seasonal), while MASwings flies from KIA to Bintulu, Kota Kinabalu, Miri, Mukah, Mulu, Sibu, and Tanjung Manis.

Other airlines that operate at KIA are Malindo Air (Kuching-Kuala Lumpur), SilkAir (Kuching-Singapore), and XpressAir (Kuching-Pontianak).

The busiest domestic route from KIA by frequency is Kuching-Kuala Lumpur with 155 flights weekly – the second busiest route in Malaysia after Kuala Lumpur-Kota Kinabalu.

Source:
courtesy of THE BORNEO POST

by Lim How Pim

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