KOTA KINABALU: Several Korean-based airlines have expressed eagerness to resume direct flights to Kota Kinabalu, as soon as possible following the re-opening of the country's border to international tourists.
This was shared to the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) delegation led by its chairman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai during the two-day delegation visit to Seoul, Korea, from April 25 to engage with the travel and tourism side there.
The group met with top management officials from Jin Air, Air Busan, Jeju Air and Air Seoul - all of which were plying direct flights to the state capital here before the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We had a fruitful discussion with the airline operators expressing their hope to mount direct flights to Kota Kinabalu within the next two months," said Bangkuai, who was state Tourism, Culture and Environment assistant minister in a statement issued on Wednesday (April 27).
He said upon arrival on the first day, the group first met up with Tourism Malaysia Seoul Director Shaharuddin Yahaya to conduct discussions.
Besides the engagement with airlines, the delegation also met with top executives from two of Korea's leading tour companies, Hana Tour and Mode Tour.
The airline and tour companies had also informed them that based on feedback from Korean travellers, Sabah was among their top preferred holiday destinations.
Also part of the delegation were STB chief executive officer Noredah Othman and chief marketing officer Tay Shu Lan.
Noredah said Korea was the first country visited by the STB team to hold engagement after the April 1 international border reopening as Kota Kinabalu had previously enjoyed 67 weekly flights from Korea operated by five carriers, prior to the pandemic.
"South Korea contributed the second most significant international arrivals to Sabah with 396,660 visitors in 2019.
"STB has maintained a strong relationship with the Korean-based airlines and tour companies even during the Covid-19 pandemic, and we see more potential of Korean travellers coming post pandemic," she added.