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Sarawak is poised to become the regional Umrah Hub for Borneo following a strategic partnership between Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and ATS Global Travel & Charter Sdn. Bhd.
This collaboration aims to develop routes from Kuching to Jeddah and Madinah, offering enhanced air connectivity for pilgrims and positioning Sarawak as a preferred destination for Umrah travel.
Kuching Umrah Gateway (KUG) – A catalytic initiative
The Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Sarawak, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, expressed the significance of the Kuching Umrah Gateway (KUG) as a catalytic initiative to establish Kuching as the regional Umrah Hub.
Aligned with the Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030) and the Sarawak Tourism Master Plan (STMP2035), the KUG project emphasizes connectivity as a vital component in boosting Sarawak’s tourism industry.
By developing air routes from Kuching to Jeddah and Madinah, Sarawak aims to attract over 230,000 pilgrims over the course of six years from Malaysia, Kalimantan, Brunei, and the Southern Philippines. The soft take-off of the KUG project on August 29, 2023, marks a significant milestone in the efforts to establish Sarawak as the regional Umrah Hub.
Strengthening partnerships and enhancing connectivity
Dato’ A. Aziz Ahmad, chairman of ATS, emphasized the strategic partnership’s commitment to supporting STB in attracting more visitors to Sarawak. ATS will procure and maintain carriers for the successful implementation of the KUG project, while also exploring feeder flights to support the mainline operations of Umrah flight carriers.
Collaborating closely with tour agents, including Sarawak Umrah and Hajj Agency (SUHA) and its members, ATS aims to create attractive Umrah packages.
To ensure the project’s success, ATS is actively working to obtain necessary approvals from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Saudi Arabia. These approvals will enable direct flights from Kuching to Jeddah and/or Madinah, with the targeted launch planned for the fourth quarter of this year.
The August soft take-off of the project will offer Umrah flights once a week on the route Kuching-Kuala Lumpur-Jeddah, with return flights from Madinah to Kuching via Kuala Lumpur.
The partnership between Sarawak Tourism Board and ATS represents a significant step toward establishing Sarawak as Borneo’s regional Umrah Hub. By enhancing air connectivity and creating seamless travel options for pilgrims, Sarawak aims to attract a significant number of visitors from the region.
As the Kuching Umrah Gateway (KUG) project progresses, the availability of direct flights and attractive Umrah packages will showcase Sarawak’s diverse offerings and provide pilgrims with the opportunity to experience the wonders of the region. Sarawak is ready to welcome pilgrims seeking spiritual journeys and memorable cultural experiences.
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