The inaugural Sarawak Fair, organised by the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office Singapore (STATOS) at Suntec City here, opened to much fanfare and excitement today as the world’s best low-cost airline, AirAsia unveils its latest route from the Lion City direct to Sibu in Sarawak, Malaysia.
Starting initially with 4x weekly flights, this is the third route by AirAsia connecting Singapore and Sarawak, after successfully launching Singapore-Kuching and Singapore-Miri earlier in April.
The Singapore to Sibu direct flight will commence on 16 December 2022, just in time for the year-end holiday and the upcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. Promotional fares from as low as S$74 all-in for a one-way Singapore-Sibu trip are available for booking on the AirAsia Super App and website from now until 27 November 2022. Meanwhile, the return Sibu to Singapore promo fares start from only RM99 all-in. The travel period for the promo is from 16 December 2022 up until 28 March 2023.
AirAsia Malaysia CEO Riad Asmat said: ”Since we announced the Singapore-Sibu last week, we’ve received an overwhelming response from both sides, especially from the business community, residents with families living on the other side as well as tourists and travellers. This is a much-awaited route for the business people and we are very glad to be working closely with STATOS as well as the Ministry of Transport Sarawak, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry & Performing Arts Sarawak, Sarawak Tourism Board and all other stakeholders and tourism partners in Sarawak and Singapore to make this route a success.
“We will be increasing our Singapore-Kuching flights to 11x weekly and Singapore-Miri 5x weekly from December. Together with the 4x weekly Singapore-Sibu flights, we are the airline with the largest connectivity between Singapore and Sarawak, and we are very happy to be able to further facilitate trade and commerce, travel and tourism, and reconnecting families between the two regions.”
STATOS CEO Chew Chang Guan said: “We are extremely excited that AirAsia has come aboard to work together closely with STATOS in realising our vision to be the main gateway for Sarawak trade, investment and tourism with Singapore and beyond, linking the State to the global market. The introduction of the Singapore-Sibu route by AirAsia cannot be at a better time as we are working hard with all stakeholders to strategise in making Sarawak the preferred destination for tourism and business. I am sure AirAsia’s presence by unveiling its Singapore-Sibu flights at our maiden Sarawak Fair here at Suntec City marks the beginning of more strategic collaborations between us in the future.”
Known as the Swan City, Sibu is famous for its authentic Foochow dishes such as Kampua noodles, Mee Sua or Longevity noodles, and many other varieties of noodle dishes unique to Sibu. Its Kompia buns are much sought after, as well as its “pulut panggang” (grilled glutinous rice rolls in banana leaf) that have become among the must-buy items for visitors to Sibu.
Sibu is also the place to satisfy one’s craving for fresh, scrumptious seafood without burning a hole in the pocket, and sample Pansuh chicken (cooked in bamboo) and Midin ferns vegetable dishes. Sibu’s Central Market is the largest of its kind in Malaysia and is a wonderland of fresh produce and exotic foodstuffs including the sago worms that can be eaten alive or cooked – definitely not for the faint-hearted! The ‘empurau’ fish, touted to be the most expensive and ‘unforgettable’ fish, is also easily available at restaurants in and around Sibu.
The seven-day Sarawak Fair by STATOS starts from today until 27 November 2022, featuring 31 exhibitors from Sarawak’s tourism and business sectors, aimed at promoting the State as both an investment and tourism destination and to generate sustained interest in its products and services amongst Singaporeans.
Visitors purchasing a tour package to Sarawak during the event will be able to ‘Spin the Wheel’ for sponsored prizes worth around S$40,000, including 16 return air tickets with AirAsia to Sibu, Kuching and Miri. Also up for grabs are resort and hotel vouchers; discount vouchers for holiday packages and sample products including Sarawak’s world-famous bird’s nest and black pepper.