Malaysian ambassador to Indonesia Syed Hasrin Tengku Hussin said there are currently 550 flights operated each week by companies such as Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia, Firefly, Batik Air and Transnusa Airlines.

Speaking at the “Sarawak Business Networking Session Roadshow to Indonesia” today, he said several new routes had been set up this year.

This included those from Balikpapan and Kertajati to Kuala Lumpur, as well as from Jakarta to Kuching.

“Furthermore, access by sea from Medan, Pekanbaru, Batam and Nunukan to Malaysia, as well as the overland route from Pontianak to Kuching, continues to increase,” he said.

The roadshow, organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) in Jakarta, will be followed by others in Balikpapan and Banjarmasin.

These are part of efforts to promote Sarawak to the Indonesian community, in collaboration with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council, Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, and the Association of the Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies.

Earlier, Syed Hasrin said 1,037,450 Malaysian tourists had visited Indonesia in 2022.

“I am confident that by maintaining good relations and enhancing bilateral cooperation, particularly in terms of accessibility, the tourism industries of both countries can continue to thrive in future,” he said.

Meanwhile, acting CEO of STB, Yusfida Khalid, said Sarawak recorded more than 200,000 arrivals of Indonesian tourists from all entry points from January to June this year, compared to 46,000 tourists during the same period last year.

The organisation of next month’s Sarawak International Dragon Boat Regatta, as well as the Sarawak Regatta in November, is expected to attract more Indonesian tourists to Sarawak, she said at the event, also attended by the director of Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, Junus Suhid.