REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MANADO -- Sriwijaya Air is planning to open the Manado-China direct flight route at the end of this year to cater to the increasing number of Chinese tourists traveling to North Sulawesi.
Sriwijaya Air's move is aimed at benefiting from the opportunity as it will have a positive impact on the regional economy, its district manager for Manado, Achmad Trenggono, said here on Friday.
The plan to open more flight routes from and to the North Sulawesi provincial capital of Manado will have a multiplier effect, he added.
"We are ready to support the North Sulawesi provincial government's efforts by encouraging the tourism sector," he stressed.
He believed that if the tourism sector is developed properly, it will have a massive impact on other sectors in the province.
The general manager of the state airport operator of Sam Ratulangi (Samrat) international airport, Halendra Waworuntu, pointed out that his side is prepared to help the airline company open new flight routes from Manado to destinations across the world.
"Only chartered planes have served international flights from Manado so far," he informed.
He underlined that the plan to open the Manado-China flight route will have a bright prospect because the province has a large potential to develop its economy.
