MASwings' Brunei connection will strenghten regional trade, tourism

WHEN combined, Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah, form an irresistible product, and if tourism in the Borneo region fails, it's due to failure in planning, Sabah's Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment said yesterday.

Dato Masidi Manjun, during his welcoming speech at MASwings' Bruneian night following the official inaugural flight from Bandar Seri Begawan to Kota Kinabalu, asked the attendees to imagine climbing Mount Kinabalu, then resting with "the most beautiful sea view" in Brunei, followed by exploring the Mulu Caves in Sarawak.

"We need to work smart in terms of looking at future prospects. North Borneo has an unbeatable product, so what I say is to have international yachting (events) created in Brunei to KK," he said, adding that it could be the "playground of the rich and famous".

Dato Masidi said that it's important to market the region as a single destination because tourists now are spoiled with choices.

"They will ask themselves why must they come to Borneo?" he added.

With that, he called for further improvements in the region's connectivity.

"Today is an important and momentus collaboration for all the people in the region," he said in reference to MASwings' entrance to its first international destination, Brunei.

Managing Director of MASwings, Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi Awang said that following their expansion to Brunei, it will enter its second BIMP-EAGA destination, Pontianak on February 6, 2012, and then Tarakan as the third destination a week later.

MASwings hopes that the new flights will give an additional lift to trade and tourism in the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) sub-region, and that its momentum will bring players closer to the main objective of the growth area.

"I have confidence there will be stronger relations in terms of trade, tourism and culture," Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi said in his welcoming address at the Pacific Sutera Harbour hotel.

He added: "Economically, socially, and culturally, aviation has been crucial to meet those needs. Regional economic integration is no longer a choice, but a necessity."

The MD called MASwings the "bridge" connecting Borneo and other islands.

"With our new expansion programme, we can offer hassle free connections to many lesure cities across Borneo with the MASwings network," he stated.

MASwings recently underwent fleet renewal programme to replace their old Fokker 50's with the state-of-the-art ATR 72-500 aircraft. Datuk Capt Mohd Nawawi claimed that the airplanes are more environmentally friendly, with lesser carbon emissions and noise reduction.

MASwings has also fitted the plane with 68 seats, down from the normal 72, which gives extra legroom and aisle space.

"In short, MASwings will strive to be the catalyst to drive BIMP-EAGA into a developed region, giving it much needed connectivity," he said.

MASwings is a fully owned subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines and began flying thrice weekly from Kuching to BSB, and twice daily from KK to the Sultanate, on February 1, 2012.

The Brunei Times