AirAsia Pledges Support for Sabah Tourism

AirAsia's Role in Sabah's Tourism Growth

AirAsia, the largest airline headquartered in Sabah, has reaffirmed its commitment to helping the state meet its goal of four million tourist arrivals by the end of this year. As one of the major travel destinations in Asean, Sabah's tourism business is greatly supported by AirAsia, which has a growing network of domestic and international flights. AirAsia makes it easier for domestic and foreign tourists to see Sabah's diverse range of attractions by running 11 domestic and 18 international routes out of Kota Kinabalu.

In line with Sabah’s tourism growth, AirAsia is gearing up to further enhance its contribution by hosting the AirAsia Travel Fair at Imago Shopping Mall in Kota Kinabalu from 19 to 20 October 2024. The fair will offer incredible discounts of up to 25 percent off flights and 50 percent off baggage fees, allowing Sabahans and international travellers alike to explore both domestic and international destinations affordably. For guests travelling between Kota Kinabalu and Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport (SZB), AirAsia also offers the all-in AirAsia Plus package from RM159 for a smoother journey.

Dato’ Captain Fareh Mazputra, Managing Director of AirAsia Malaysia, said: "As Sabah continues to attract more visitors, AirAsia is proud to support the state's tourism goals and play a key role in its journey towards achieving four million tourist arrivals this year. Our extensive route network and exclusive travel fair are part of our ongoing commitment to making Sabah accessible to travellers worldwide and allowing Sabahans to explore intra-Sabah and new destinations.

"AirAsia's role in supporting Sabah's tourism extends beyond simply flying people out of the state; we also bring in a steady influx of visitors from across the globe and create local jobs in the region in hospitality and more. To date, we have flown almost two million guests into Sabah since January 2024, and our top five international destinations are Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei, Guangzhou, and Hangzhou. This has contributed to the state’s impressive tourism figures and helped stimulate the local economy through increased visitor spending on accommodation, dining, and tourism-related activities.

"As Sabah moves towards surpassing three million tourist arrivals and aims to reach four million by the end of the year, AirAsia stands ready to support this growth. With our unrivalled connectivity and commitment to delivering affordable travel options, we remain a crucial partner in Sabah’s tourism journey, helping to solidify its reputation as a must-visit destination in Asean."

With other destinations scheduled for the upcoming months, the airline has considerably increased its connection this year by adding new routes to Subang, Manado, Kaohsiung, Ho Chi Minh City, Kunming, and Shantou. Apart from these direct services, AirAsia offers easy connections to more than 130 locations, including major cities like Bangkok, Tokyo, and Melbourne, through its Fly-Thru network.