The state government is drafting and organising the strategy and planning regarding the operations and facilities of the Batu Berendam International Airport (LTAM) to attract more airline companies to activate operations here.

State Works, Infrastructure, Public Facilities and Transport Committee chairman Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer said this included new applications to the Federal government for additional allocation to upgrade the airport runway.

“Discussions with Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) are also to help the state government attract (more) airline operations to LTAM and the essence of the draft is closely related to the tourism sector, thus, further boosting tourist arrivals to the state by air,” he told reporters after welcoming the arrival of Wings Air passengers, here, today.

Also present was state Tourism, Heritage, Arts and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman.

The company introduced daily return flights at LTAM using ART-72 aircraft, with the first flight today bringing in passengers from Pekanbaru, Indonesia.

Abdul Razak expects the company’s operations to contribute to the state’s tourism industry and help the state achieve its target of attracting 8.4 million tourist arrivals to Melaka this year.

“In addition, Melaka is also a health tourism destination, especially for tourists from Indonesia and, judging by the flight today, 85 per cent of the passengers are here for treatment at private hospitals in the state,” he said.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency