Tawau airport expansion a boost to Sabah tourism sector

TAWAU: The expansion of the Tawau Airport, as announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Budget 2025, is an important catalyst to boost the tourism sector in Sabah.

Sabah Cross Border Traders Association manager Tasman Matto said the airport expansion is important to provide a high-capacity airport on the east coast of the state to support the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, which is on the west coast.

He said it would also pave the way for Tawau Airport to meet the greater needs of international tourism on the east coast of Sabah.

"Tawau is a strategic hub for the East ASEAN Development Area (BIMP-EAGA) and with this airport expansion, Tawau Airport can grow and become one of the main transport hubs in the region.

"In fact, Tawau's strategic location near the Indonesian capital, Nusantara, opens up economic opportunities.

"Apart from Tawau and the surrounding areas such as Kunak and Lahad Datu which have their own tourist attractions, Semporna is a popular destination among Chinese tourists," he told Bernama.

According to Tasman, Tawau Airport now accepts Chinese tourists through direct AirAsia and Batik Air flights from China and Macau, as well as 32 special charter flights from the republic to Tawau.

The airport also receives domestic flights from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, and Kuala Lumpur.

Tawau Airport was originally designed to accommodate 1.5 million passengers a year, but last year, it recorded operating with a capacity of 1.71 million passengers last year.

Its cargo services also saw a big jump with 13,000 tons handled last year compared to 4,000 tons in 2019.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the Minister of Finance, when tabling the 2025 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat recently, said the government agreed to proceed with the expansion of Tawau Airport and Miri Airport in Sarawak, with RM235 million allocated for the projects.

Businessman Tan Sri Liew Yun Fah said the upgrade of the Tawau Airport had long been awaited and the announcement by the prime minister showed that the federal government realised the need for it.

Tan, who is Sabah DESA Group chairman, said he had been in contact with the Chinese Consul General in Kota Kinabalu and was informed that there was a high demand for flights from China to land in Tawau.

The overcrowding at the airport currently due to insufficient facilities is a discomfort. Thanks also to Transport Minister Anthony Loke who went to the ground to see for himself the condition of Tawau Airport.

"This upgrade is important as it not only lifts the image of the Sabah government but also the federal government," he said, adding that he hoped the project could be expedited.

Meanwhile, a seafood supplier, Samsur Bahar, 48, hoped that the expansion of the airport could be accelerated to meet the growing demand for cargo transportation.

"There is demand in terms of seafood exports so we hope the capacity of the airport will be increased so that we can meet this demand," he said.

For a private sector employee, Ng Tze Ti, she regarded the announcement of the project as proving that the government cares about the people and Sabah.

"I hope the existing facilities at the airport, such as the seats, the air conditioners, will be improved and more check-in counters and Immigration counters be opened to address the congestion problem," she said.

-- BERNAMA

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