Pontianak-Kuching flights to resume Sept 12, boosting tourism and connectivity
KUCHING (July 25): The long-awaited resumption of the direct Pontianak-Kuching flight route is set for this Sept 12, a move expected to significantly enhance regional connectivity while boosting Sarawak's medical tourism and live entertainment sectors.
Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, has confirmed that although the final official confirmation is pending, initial indications suggest the route will operate two flights daily.
'It's about RM180 for a one-way trip, if I'm not mistaken,' he told reporters at the launch of Air Supply's 50th anniversary concert, here today.
Abdul Karim highlighted the strategic timing of the flight resumption, coinciding with the concert scheduled for Sept 24.
'The event is expected to attract a sizeable number of fans from Indonesia, particularly from Pontianak.
'There are a lot of rich people down there (in Pontianak). Every time we host a concert, many of them come by road.
'During last year's countdown event, the Tebedu CIQS (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex) was jammed for three hours,' he said.
The minister also cited encouraging performance of the Jakarta-Kuching direct flight, which had maintained a passenger load factor consistently above 80 per cent, driven by demand from Indonesian travellers.
According to Abdul Karim, the Singapore tourist arrivals are showing an upward trend, while Brunei remains a significant market for Sarawak's tourism industry.
'More than 100,000 Bruneians enter Sarawak every year, whether for entertainment, marathons, extreme sports, or 4×4 rallies.
'Brunei has always been a strong supporter of our tourism,' he said.
Abdul Karim also reaffirmed Indonesia's position as the primary source of foreign medical tourists to Sarawak, especially from Pontianak and Jakarta.
According to him, many of these patients travel overland for up to five hours, while others opt to fly via Jakarta before arriving in Kuching.
'With direct flights now available from both Pontianak and Jakarta, we anticipate a significant increase in medical tourist arrivals from Indonesia,' he said.
Additionally, Abdul Karim hinted at the potential for a future direct flight route between Balikpapan and Kuching.
'Probably in the future, we never know – Balikpapan might be… (having direct flights from Balikpapan to Kuching),' he said with optimism. Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah flights Kuching Pontianak
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