By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, April 2: There is no point in operating flights if there are not enough passengers, says Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, addressing concerns over Batik Air’s recent cut in domestic flights.
He said the reduction may be linked to the ongoing situation in the Middle East, which has pushed up ticket prices globally.
“There may be some adjustments, but I believe they are temporary. This situation will eventually resolve,” he told reporters after attending the Serumpun Sarawak ceremony at Sarawak Cultural Village last night (Apr 1).
Abdul Karim added that other airlines may also be adjusting their services, as business decisions are driven by passenger demand.
“Airlines are driven by business. If certain routes have low demand, especially with rising ticket prices globally, people may choose not to fly. That is why we are also looking at alternatives to promote domestic tourism, as some may prefer not to travel by air for now,” he said.
He expressed optimism, noting that tourism continues steadily despite global conflicts, according to recent data.
Meanwhile, he explained that any support for tourism players will depend on how the situation unfolds.
“Rising fuel prices don’t automatically mean we provide aid to the tourism sector. We need to gauge the severity, as it affects everyone,” he said.
Abdul Karim said hospitality sectors such as hotels and transportation could be slightly affected, while the federal government is reviewing support measures.
“We hope it will not continue for years and will stabilise in the coming months,” he added. — DayakDaily
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