JAKARTA – The arrival of Indonesian tourists to Malaysia is expected to increase to 2.68 million this year from 1.48 million last year, driven by the increased air and sea accessibility between the two countries.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Datuk Syed Md Hasrin Tengku Hussin, stated that there are currently 550 flights operating 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 mentioned that several new routes have been set up this year, including those from Balikpapan and Kertajati to Kuala Lumpur, as well as from Jakarta to Kuching, Sarawak.

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

The roadshow, organised by the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) in Jakarta, will be followed by Balikpapan and Banjarmasin as efforts to promote Sarawak to the Indonesian community, in collaboration with the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, and the Association of Indonesian Tours and Travel Agencies.

Earlier, Syed Md Hasrin stated that a total of 1,037,450 Malaysian tourists 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 the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Executive Officer of STB, Yusfida Khalid, mentioned that Sarawak recorded over 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, which was also attended by the Director of Tourism Malaysia Jakarta, Junus Suhid. – BERNAMA