SEPANG, 17 February 2024 – Malaysia ushered in the inaugural direct flight of Batik Air from Batam to Kuala Lumpur today, marking another significant milestone in strengthening the robust links between Malaysia and Indonesia by offering convenient travel options for business, leisure and medical tourism.

Dato’ Dr Ammar Abd. Ghapar, Director General of Tourism Malaysia, alongside representatives from Batik Air and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB), greeted passengers arriving on Flight OD357 at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 1.

Operating three times weekly with Boeing 737 aircraft, this new route underscores Batik Air’s commitment to expand its network growth in Southeast Asia while catering to the increased demand for intra-regional travel.

Dato’ Dr Ammar stated: “Given our geographical proximity, shared cultural heritage and strong connectivity, Indonesia holds a special place as a key source market for Malaysia. We are confident that this connection will further bolster tourist arrivals as we are gearing up for Visit Malaysia 2026 and contribute to the economic prosperity of both nations.”

"The launch of direct flights from Batam to Kuala Lumpur represents a strategic move for Batik Air as we continue to expand our presence in key markets,” said Chief Executive Officer of Batik Air Datuk Chandran Rama Muthy adding that this new route will enable passengers from Batam to connect to Batik Air’s ever-growing flight network to 53 destinations across 22 countries through KLIA.

The ASEAN market has predominantly been the primary contributor to Malaysia’s tourism sector, with Indonesia ranking second in the top ten tourist-generating markets, contributing significantly to the 2.8 million arrivals between January and November 2023. Malaysia’s diverse offerings, including renowned medical tourism services and vibrant shopping destinations, continue to attract Indonesian travellers.

In 2024, Malaysia aims to welcome 27.3 million tourists, generating RM102.7 billion in revenue. The forthcoming Visit Malaysia Year 2026 has set an ambitious target of 35.6 million foreign tourist arrivals with target receipt of RM147.1billion.

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About Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board, also known as Tourism Malaysia, is an agency under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture Malaysia. It focuses on the specific task of promoting Malaysia as a preferred tourism destination. Since its inception, it has emerged as a major player in the international tourism scene.

The next Visit Malaysia Year, set to take place in 2026, will commemorate the sustainability of the nation's tourism industry, which is also in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG).

Furthermore, Tourism Malaysia actively endorses the Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT), working towards the realisation of the IMT-GT Visiting Year 2023-2025, with the shared aim of promoting the region as a unified tourism destination. For more information, visit Tourism Malaysia’s social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok.

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