"Sarawak looks forward to the connectivity with IKN. We also continue to encourage more connectivity to various destinations in Indonesia," he informed here on Thursday.
He said that cooperation with stakeholders is being carried out not only with airlines, but also with Sarawak's Transport Ministry and the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, among others.
He also thanked a private airline that has just opened a new direct flight route from Jakarta to Kuching.
Witjaksono said he expects that the airline will also open direct flights from Sarawak to Balikpapan and Pontianak in the future.
According to him, increasing the movement of people from Malaysia to Indonesia will improve relations between the two countries in several aspects, such as social, cultural, economic, business, trade, tourism, and investment.
"Last year, there were 1.7 million Malaysian tourists visiting Indonesia. If there is a flight from Sarawak to Balikpapan (East Kalimantan), it will be closer to IKN," he said.
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On the same occasion, Sarawak Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin said that the connectivity between Indonesia and Malaysia is the responsibility of all stakeholders.
According to Minister Lee, airlines opening direct Jakarta-Kuching flights will increase people's movement, thereby triggering economic growth in both countries.
"The connection to Jakarta opens wider links from Sarawak to other parts of Indonesia, especially with the establishment of the new administrative capital of Nusantara in East Kalimantan," he said.
Meanwhile, the East Kalimantan Provincial Tourism Office has prepared a number of tourist destinations in Samarinda city, Balikpapan, Penajam Paser Utara, and Berau, to support IKN.
The destinations offer marine and beach tourism, cultural tourism, religious tourism, and river tourism, among others.
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Translator: Adimas P, Kenzu
Editor: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
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