Sarawak eyes direct Kuching–Jeju flights as AirBorneo expands regional tourism links

Sarawak is looking to expand its tourism appeal by establishing direct AirBorneo Airways connections between Kuching and Jeju Island in South Korea, as the state seeks to boost access to key regional markets. Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said South Korea is among the destinations under consideration, with Jeju Island as the primary target for direct flights.

Jeju, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage and Global Geopark, contrasts with Kuching's goal of becoming a UNESCO Global Geopark. The Premier has expressed interest in linking Jeju's geopark to Sarawak's own geopark via this direct service, which could be launched after Jakarta, according to Abdul Karim. South Korea is presented as a promising market for Sarawak, with strong local interest in traveling there, while Sarawak also aims to attract more Korean visitors.

Abdul Karim praised Korean living standards and the nation's successful industries in music, technology, automobiles, and sports. Interest among Korean families in sending their children to Kuching for English education was also highlighted as a positive sign of the city's potential as an education destination. Despite current limitations in direct international flights to Sarawak, PATA CEO Noor Ahmad Hamid noted that the state's participation in the 2026 PATA Travel Mart attracted over 1,100 delegates from 48 countries, including 220 buyers from 29 source markets.

PATA sees untapped potential in Southeast Asia, particularly in Asean, which is geographically close to Sarawak.