Wednesday April 15, 2009

Terengganu plans direct flights to woo more Singaporeans

KUALA TERENGGANU: The state government is confident about starting direct flights between here and Singapore.

State Tourism, Culture, Art and Heritage Com­mittee chairman Datuk Zaabar Mohd Adib said talks between the Transport Ministry and its Singapore counterpart had been positive.

“It will certainly be a boom for our tourism industry as Singapore tourists are the most treasured group,” he told The Star.

He added that by having the route, Singa­poreans would not be burdened by making transit stops in Kuala Lumpur.

Zaabar said low-cost carrier FireFly was interested to service the route and the state government anticipated that Singapore operators would also start flights.

“Singaporeans make up the bulk of tourists to Terengganu and direct flights could increase their numbers three-fold,” he said.

“Singapore is our traditional market and we are now intensifying our promotion to woo more people to make Terengganu their favourite holiday destination.”

Zaabar said Terengganu Fest would be promoted in Singapore in the next few months and the new Terengganu Zoo in Kemaman, dubbed the largest recreational concept zoo in the country, would form part of the package.

He said facilities at islands off Terengganu would be enhanced to attract Singaporeans.