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Thursday, July 4, 2024 AirAsia and the Sabah Tourism Board (STB) have formalized a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a strategic partnership aimed at boosting Sabah’s tourism industry over the next five years. This collaboration aims to elevate Sabah, known as the Land Below the Wind, into a premier tourist destination by enhancing air connectivity within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA), as well as across ASEAN, North Asia, and Oceania from 2024 to 2028. AirAsia Group’s objective is to expand connectivity in Sabah with the potential introduction of 14 new domestic and international routes.

These routes may include Kota Kinabalu-Bandar Sri Begawan, Kota Kinabalu-Perth, Tawau-Guangzhou, Sandakan-Hong Kong, among others. The decision on launching these routes will depend on market analysis, regulatory approvals, and other favorable market conditions assessed in the coming months. Additionally, the partnership involves increased collaboration between AirAsia and the STB to explore the development of Kota Kinabalu International Airport as a regional aviation hub in the future.



Minister of Tourism Culture and Environment Sabah, Datuk Christina Liew said: “We are pleased to establish this five-year strategic partnership with AirAsia where we will support in bridging the conversation between the airline and relevant stakeholders. Over the past few months, Sabah has become one of the top affordable travel desti.

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