Entrepreneur Nahrawi Noerdin Asks Government To Reopen Aceh-Malaysia Flight Route

Illustration. (Photo: Doc. Antara)

JAKARTA - Acehnese businessman and chairman of the National Oil and Gas Entrepreneurs Association (Hiswana Migas) Nahrawi Noerdin asked the government to be able to reopen the Aceh-Malaysia route.

"We hope that the Aceh government and the Aceh DPR can find a solution. Maybe by writing or coordinating with the relevant ministries," said Nahrawi Noerdin, in Banda Aceh, quoted from Antara, Tuesday, May 17.

Nahrawi said that since the closure of the Aceh -Malaysia flight route two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic, until now the route has not been opened. In fact, it has begun to enter the endemic phase and people's lives are starting to enter a period of recovery towards normalcy.

The government only allows international flights through several airports in Indonesia, including Soekarno-Hatta Airport in Banten and Kuala Namu in North Sumatra.

"The non-opening of international flight routes to and from Aceh has had a significant impact on Aceh's economic growth, especially through the tourism sector," he said.

Nahrawi said, Aceh is one of the favorite tourist destinations for Malaysians. In addition to cultural proximity and geographical location, the residents there also really like religious tourism and Acehnese culinary specialties.

"Not only for tourist purposes, travel for business purposes is also carried out by many business people from the neighboring country, so it is very unfortunate if this route is not opened," he said.

Nahrawi said, the current national economic recovery efforts, the tourism sector is one of the mainstays of the Acehnese economy, so the opening of the flight route is a strategic step taken by the government.

"Acehnese and Malaysians visit each other for both tourism and business purposes, this has a very positive impact on Aceh's economic growth," he said.

On this occasion, Nahrawi also asked the public, if later the international flight route from Aceh was reopened, it was still obligatory to follow the provisions of the established health protocol. Because this virus is not over yet.

“However, the COVID-19 pandemic is not really over. So the health protocol must still be carried out if later this international flight route is reopened for the common good," said Nahrawi Noerdin.