KUCHING: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry expects more visitors to Sarawak and Sabah for the Hari Raya season this year following the drop in air fares to both states.

       Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic) said the reduction will also help efforts to achieve the target of 1.2 million tourists to Sarawak this year.

       "Based on the trend, we see less people coming in during the Ramadan month, but towards the end of the fasting month, because people want to celebrate, we see more (visitors to Sarawak and Sabah)," she said at a media conference after attending a get-together event with Sarawak Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry staff at the Malaysian Handicrafts Development Corporation here Friday (April 22).

       She also said that the drop in air fares would help placate Sarawakians and Sabahans who were dissatisfied about the issue.

       "Our friends need to understand why those from Sabah and Sarawak were up in arms (about high prices). Sarawak and Sabah have no road connectivity with other states in the Peninsula and can only be linked by air,” she added. - Bernama