Sabah is on track to reach its goal of 30,000 tourist arrivals, bolstered by AirAsia’s launch of two new flights in January. The direct flight from Shantou to Sabah commenced on the 17th, followed by a direct route from Kaohsiung to Kota Kinabalu on the 18th.
The inaugural flights from Shantou and Kaohsiung landed at Kota Kinabalu International Airport, where a traditional water ceremony celebrated the occasion. With these new routes, Shantou becomes the ninth Chinese city to offer direct flights to Kota Kinabalu, joining the ranks of Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Beijing. The route will operate three times a week, increasing the total number of direct flights from China to Kota Kinabalu to 55 weekly.
The new service from Kaohsiung marks it as the second Taiwanese city, after Taipei, to connect directly to Sabah, enhancing travel options for residents of southern Taiwan, including Tainan and Pingtung.
“The launch of flights to Shantou will attract more tourists from nearby cities such as Chaozhou, Huizhou, Meizhou, Xiamen, Shanwei, and Quanzhou, which collectively have a population exceeding 314,000,” said a representative.
Datuk Seri Bangrima Kristina Lau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, expressed gratitude to AirAsia for its ongoing partnership, which has made Sabah more accessible to international tourists. In July, Sabah entered a five-year strategic alliance with AirAsia aimed at boosting local tourism and establishing Kota Kinabalu International Airport as a major regional aviation hub.
Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia, emphasized the significance of these new routes in promoting tourism and cultural exchange. He noted that AirAsia’s extensive network and the government’s Visa Waiver Scheme would facilitate travel between the two countries, allowing Chinese tourists to explore the attractions of Kota Kinabalu.
“We are excited to contribute to the tourism development of Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia’s second-largest hub. These new routes will enable more passengers to travel, supporting the vision of attracting 3 million visitors by the end of the year,” Captain Fareh stated.
Julinus Jeffrey Jimmitt, Chief Executive Officer of the Sabah Tourism Board, highlighted the region’s rich natural and cultural diversity, which provides tourists with vibrant travel experiences.
“Enhancing Sabah’s accessibility is crucial for achieving our goal of making tourism a key driver of the Sabah Maju Jaya project, aligning with our efforts for the Malaysia Year of Tourism 2026,” Jimmitt added.