SIBU: Sarawak Central Region Hotels Association has called on the government to cap the spiraling airfares such as the RM900 (one-way) Sibu/Kuala Lumpur route.
Its chairman Johnny Wong Sie Lee yesterday said the costly air tickets would dampen the government’s effort to promote domestic tourism and national integration.
He lamented that many members of a group here had been forced to ground their plan to attend a function in KL due to the costly airfare.
While he understood that the low cost airlines would charge higher for their airfare during peak season, the hike was simply too much for those needing to travel urgently.
“The huge jump in price is way too much and sounds ridiculous. This certainly does not augur well for the government’s plan to promote domestic tourism and national integration.
“Air travel is the sole mode of transport, connecting Sarawak with the outside world. At RM900 one-way from Sibu to Kuala Lumpur, most people would be put off by it,” Wong reiterated.
Wong acknowledged that the low cost airlines had done wonders to the local populace through better connectivity and spurring tourism activities.
“They have helped to boost the business of the town while hotels enjoy better occupancy rate. But with such an exorbitant airfare, it will be burdensome for locals to travel,” he moaned.