New Malaysia Airlines service expected to boost number of tourists

31/10/97

A new Malaysia Airlines service due in Perth tomorrow morning (Saturday, November 1) is expected to help boost the numbers of tourists travelling from Malaysia to Perth.

The inaugural Airbus A330 service is scheduled to arrive in Perth at 5.10am.

A delegation of senior travel and media representatives from Malaysia will be among the passengers.

The extra service is from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching then Perth and return.

The service originally was scheduled to start next January, but it has been brought forward because of increased demand and the availability of aircraft.

Tourism Minister Norman Moore and Malaysia Airlines Western Australian manager Eddie Soong expressed delight with the new flight, Malaysia Airlines' eighth to Western Australia.

Mr Moore said it was a pleasing result for the WA Tourism Commission and would add to its recent promotional drive in the area.

"Despite the currency crisis, South-East Asia remains a core market for Western Australia, particularly Malaysia and Singapore, which still see us as an attractive, low-cost holiday option for short breaks," he said.

Mr Soong said the extra service had been introduced to meet increased demand from Malaysians wanting to travel to WA for their holidays.

"They see WA as a promising and viable tourist destination," he said.

"This new flight ex-Kuching will facilitate travel for Sarawak and the neighbouring regions such as Sabah, Labuan and Brunei.

"Rather than taking the long hop to Kuala Lumpur, Kuching will provide a readily accessible departure point for eastern Malaysia."

Kuching is a major regional hub in Malaysia.

Flights from there will ease Perth-bound traffic through Kuala Lumpur and significantly cut travelling time to Perth from eastern Malaysia.

Major cities such as Kota Kinabalu and Miri also will benefit from easier access through Kuching.

Media contact: Craig Sinclair, WA Tourism Commission, (08) 9220 1736 or

Hartley Joynt, Minister's office (08) 9321 1444