Sarawak Malaysia And Kuching Join Malaysia Airlines Bonus Side Trip Programme To Boost Global Tourism, You Need To Know

Published on September 6, 2025

By: Paramita Sarkar

Sarawak successful Malaysia, pinch Kuching arsenic its capital, has officially go nan eighth destination nether Malaysia Airlines’ Bonus Side Trip (BST) programme, enhancing world entree for world travellers. The announcement, made during MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur 2025, marks a important milestone successful promoting Sarawak arsenic a must-visit Bornean destination up of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. The inclusion of Kuching successful nan BST inaugural positions nan authorities arsenic a gateway for cultural, adventure, and culinary experiences for some world and home travellers.

Who Is Involved?

Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), nan genitor institution of Malaysia Airlines, are starring this initiative. The BST programme reflects a beardown business betwixt nan tourism committee and nan nationalist carrier, formalised successful 2024 to amended aerial connectivity and thrust associated tourism promotion successful Malaysia. The programme is designed to facilitate recreation for world passengers, allowing them to see an other home destination astatine nary further airfare, paying only applicable taxes. With Kuching’s inclusion, Sarawak becomes nan first and only Bornean destination featured successful nan programme.

At MATTA Fair KL 2025, Sarawak showcased nan milestone alongside section and world audiences, utilising 19 exhibitors to item nan state’s cultural, natural, and gastronomic attractions. The fair, held astatine MITEC from 5–7 September, serves arsenic Malaysia’s largest home tourism stage, complementing Sarawak’s increasing world profile.

What Is nan Bonus Side Trip Programme?

The Bonus Side Trip programme by Malaysia Airlines is an world recreation inaugural aimed astatine encouraging visitors to research aggregate destinations wrong Malaysia during a azygous journey. Passengers arriving connected world tickets tin adhd a home destination, paying only minimal taxes. With Kuching joining nan BST programme, Sarawak’s accessibility increases for travellers from Europe, nan Middle East, Asia, and nan Americas.

The programme encourages tourism by providing an opportunity to research Sarawak’s Culture, Adventure, Nature, Food, and Festivals (CANFF) pillars. International travellers tin acquisition Sarawak’s surviving cultures of 34 taste groups, UNESCO World Heritage Sites specified arsenic Gunung Mulu and Niah National Parks, UNESCO-recognised gastronomic experiences successful Kuching, and iconic festivals for illustration nan Rainforest World Music Festival. These experiences make Sarawak a unsocial summation to Malaysia’s tourism landscape, differentiating it from different destinations.

When and Where Is nan Launch?

The charismatic motorboat of Kuching nether nan BST programme took spot connected 6 September 2025 astatine MAG Arena, Level 3, Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC) successful Kuala Lumpur. The arena featured a ceremonial handshake betwixt cardinal officials from STB and MAG. The announcement coincided pinch MATTA Fair Kuala Lumpur 2025, which provided a level to link pinch Malaysian holidaymakers while promoting Sarawak’s attractions globally.

Where Is Sarawak Positioned successful nan Tourism Map?

Sarawak, located connected nan land of Borneo, is positioned arsenic Malaysia’s earthy gateway to Borneo. The authorities offers a holistic recreation experience, combining taste heritage, escapade tourism, ecotourism, gastronomic attractions, and globally recognised festivals. Kuching, arsenic nan superior city, serves arsenic nan superior entree constituent for world travellers entering Borneo, making it an perfect summation to Malaysia Airlines’ Bonus Side Trip programme.

At MATTA Fair KL 2025, nan Sarawak Pavilion offered visitors interactive experiences, including accepted Sape music, chemoreceptor flute performances, batik and tattoo artistry demonstrations, and indigenous handicrafts workshops. Family-friendly activities, games, trivia, giveaways, and limited-edition souvenirs were besides disposable to prosecute home visitors and complement nan world tourism promotion.

Why Is This Initiative Important?

The inclusion of Kuching nether nan BST programme reinforces Sarawak’s world tourism strategy up of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. It strengthens world scope by making Sarawak much accessible to travellers and positions nan authorities arsenic a competitory destination for leisure and taste tourism. The programme besides highlights nan imaginable of collaboration betwixt nan nationalist bearer and nan tourism committee to summation sustainable tourism maturation successful nan region.

For home travellers, MATTA Fair KL provides a level to showcase Sarawak’s attractions, ensuring nan authorities remains top-of-mind for Malaysian holidaymakers while complementing its world appeal. The inaugural is expected to boost visitant arrivals, promote longer stays, and summation spending crossed Sarawak’s tourism sector.

How Will Travellers Benefit?

International travellers flying to Malaysia will now person nan action to see Kuching successful their itinerary without further airfare costs. This enables visitors to acquisition Sarawak’s divers attractions, from escapade tours successful nationalist parks to immersive taste and culinary experiences. For travellers seeking unique, off-the-beaten-path destinations, Kuching and Sarawak supply a compelling logic to widen their enactment successful Malaysia.

Domestic visitors besides use by gaining early vulnerability to Sarawak’s offerings done MATTA Fair KL, inspiring early recreation plans and reinforcing nan state’s estimation arsenic a culturally rich | and people beautiful destination.

Conclusion

Sarawak’s inclusion successful Malaysia Airlines’ Bonus Side Trip programme represents a landmark accomplishment successful nan state’s tourism improvement strategy. By leveraging world connectivity and showcasing nan region’s divers attractions, Sarawak continues to position itself arsenic a world recreation destination. The announcement astatine MATTA Fair KL 2025 not only enhances Sarawak’s floor plan among world travellers but besides engages home audiences, making nan authorities a apical prime for some section and world visitors up of Visit Malaysia Year 2026. With Kuching arsenic nan gateway to Borneo, visitors tin expect immersive experiences crossed culture, adventure, nature, food, and festivals, strengthening Sarawak’s marque arsenic “More to Discover.”