The Terengganu government will re-open two air routes for the Kuala Terengganu-Singapore-Kuala Terengganu and Kuala Terengganu-Penang-Kuala Terengganu destinations soon to increase tourist arrivals in the state in conjunction with Visit Terengganu Year 2017 (VTY2017).

Menteri Besar, Datuk Seri Ahmad Razif Abd Rahman said that discussions with airline company AirAsia on re-opening the two routes were now at the final stage.

"The re-opening of the routes is part of our efforts to meet the target of drawing 5.5 million tourists in conjunction with VTY2017, besides the aggressive promotions we had undertaken at the two destinations, Singapore and Penang.

"We also invite other airline companies to fly here and seek other alternatives like chartering special flights to bring more tourists to the state," he said, after the celebration of the first day of VTY2017 at Sultan Mahmud Airport, here, today.

The Sultan of Terengganu, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin yesterday launched the Visit Beautiful Terengganu 2017 programme in conjunction with VTY2017 at Duyong Marina Resort, here.

Ahmad Razif said in conjunction with VTY2017, the state government as the main organiser of the Visit Beautiful Terengganu programme, had also come up with a calendar of exciting events as a guide for local and foreign tourists to suit their varied interests.

"They can choose the events in the calendar through the packages they book for, which can ease their planning according to the dates suitable for them," he added - BERNAMA