Malaysia Airlines (MAS) on Sunday launched a maiden flight from Kuching, east Malaysia, to China's southern city of Guangzhou.

On board the Guangzhou bound Boeing 737-400 flight were 137 people, headed by MAS General Manager for West Region Rashid Khan and including Sarawak Tourism Board officers, travel agency members, hoteliers, state and national media personnel, Malaysia National News Agency reported.

The thrice weekly flights will depart from Kuching, capital of Sarawak State, to Guangzhou on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 10:40 am and arrive in Guangzhou at 4:05 pm, with a 55-minute stopover in Kota Kinabalu, capital of Sabah State.

Sarawak State's Tourism Minister Abang Johari told reporters after the launching that he would lead a high-powered tourism delegation to China next year to tap the vast Chinese tourism market.

"The trip scheduled for February with strong state Cabinet backing will among others aim to attract middle-class young Chinese men and women in Shanghai and Beijing to Kuching," he said.

"We are eyeing the huge tourism market in China which local inbound tour operators should aggressively tap. Chinese tourists should be encouraged to take up the Guangzhou-Kota Kinabalu-Kuching-Perth special package," he said.

He also urged local operators to work closely with travel agencies in various Chinese cities and design attractive local tour packages.

Up to now, MAS operates six regular flights between Malaysian and Chinese cities.
 
(Xinhua News Agency November 3, 2003)