Tuesday 2 September 2014

New flights boost state tourism

New flights boost state tourism

WITH low-cost carrier, AirAsia’s introduction of three more international routes via the Senai International Airport, the state government is confident of achieving its target of 5.7 million tourists to Johor in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism executive committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the three direct flights to Johor Baru, from Yogyakarta and Lombok in Indonesia and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, were a new market for the airline.

“I believe the existence of tourist attractions in the state, such as the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town theme park, Legoland theme park and Johor Premium Outlets, has prompted the airline to increase its number of international flights to Johor,” he said.

Tee said this at a press conference after opening the Islamic Tourism Exhibition Tour and Travel Agents Association of Malaysia (Matta) Fair, here, recently.

Tee said the opening of the three flight routes on July 11 had since brought 6,829 passengers to the Senai International Airport.

From January to July, the airport recorded 1.27 million arrivals compared with 1.04 million during the same period last year, he added.

“This is an increase of 226,510 passengers (17.85 per cent) from last year.

“The efforts of the government and other agencies over the years to enhance the role of Senai International Airport as an international aviation hub in the south of Peninsular Malaysia have resulted in the increased number of passengers using the airport this year, ” he said.

Also present were Matta Malaysia president Hamzah Rahmat, State Tourism Department director Dr Badrul Hisham Kassim and Tourism and Culture Ministry Johor office director Mohd Isa Abdul Halim.

On a separate matter, Isa said the ministry stood by the state government in its stance against illegal tour companies.

“The approach this time is to create awareness and to help the illegal operators to apply for a licence.

“If they do not have a licence, we will give them two days to comply, failing which they would be issued a compound and hauled to court,” he said.


Legoland Malaysia is one of Johor’s key tourist attractions.

~News courtesy of New Straits Times~

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