MOSCOW, March 24. /TASS/. Malaysia and Russia are intensively discussing the possibility to launch nonstop flights between the two countries, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment of Malaysia’s Sabah, Datuk Josie Lai Mei Sing, told TASS.
The Malaysian state of Sabah is located in the northern part of Borneo island.
"Russia and Malaysia are actively discussing the possibility to launch direct flights. Although there are no direct flights between Russia and Malaysia currently, Sabah Tourism Board works with airlines, exploring options to enhance transportation access and facilitate trips to Sabah," she said.
Sabah currently has air service with 22 major international destinations, including China, South Korea, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Vietnam, and Brunei, the official added. "Twelve air carriers can bring travelers from all over the world to Sabah, with various options of connecting flights making the route to our region more accessible for Russians," she said.
Domestic flights are also well-developed, Datuk Josie Lai Mei Sing pointed out. "Sabah is easily accessible from Malaysia’s large cities, such as Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johore, Kota Bharu, and Sarawak," she said.
"We are confident that the interest of the Russian market will continue growing as Sabah perfectly suits the needs of Russian travelers. Better air service will undoubtedly play a key role in attracting a larger number of Russian tourists to Sabah," the permanent secretary concluded.