(Bandar Seri Begawan, 29th) To expand the international tourism market and deepen cooperation with Southeast Asian tourism, the "Kinmen–Brunei Direct Two-way Charter Flight" officially launched the day before yesterday, operated by Royal Brunei Airlines. The inaugural flight carried 94 international tourists to Kinmen, while 148 Kinmen residents set off for Brunei. Many Kinmen residents participating in the maiden voyage exclaimed: "We've saved on transfer tickets and accommodation, making going abroad so much easier!"
The inaugural flight landed smoothly at Kinmen Shangyi Airport at 1:37 p.m. the day before yesterday. The airport welcomed the first group of international tourists with a "water salute," symbolizing good fortune and success. Fire trucks sprayed water to form an arch, creating a spectacular scene. Deputy County Governor Li Wenliang and Deputy Director of the Tourism Department He Guichuan personally welcomed the passengers and presented them with "Kinmen-exclusive cultural and creative souvenirs." Taiko drum and lion dance performances added a strong cultural flair to the site, prompting many foreign visitors to take photos as mementos.
Miss Lin from Brunei, who set foot in Kinmen for the first time, expressed her surprise: "As soon as I got off the plane, I saw lion dances and traditional performances. It felt like attending a grand festival!" Mr. Chen from Malaysia said: "Kinmen combines wartime history with a human touch, offering a travel experience completely different from that of Taiwan's main island."
This charter flight also attracted the Chinese Taipei Brunei Overseas Chinese Association, led by Chairman Dato Sri Lin Chang-Chen. He stated that previously, returning home required flying to Taipei before transferring to Kinmen, which was time-consuming and inconvenient. This direct charter flight is much more convenient. Some group members stayed in Kinmen to travel, while others continued on to Xiamen—everyone was very excited. He also hopes that in the future, direct charter flights will become regular. Kinmen notable Wong Zhenli, who has been friends with Chairman Lin for years, also specially showed up to welcome the group, creating a warm and touching scene.
County Governor Chen Fuhai pointed out that the successful charter flight not only strengthens the ties between Kinmen and Southeast Asia, but also lays a foundation for bilateral cultural exchanges. In the future, it will attract more overseas Chinese to return home and seek their roots, further boosting Kinmen’s international tourism competitiveness. Deputy County Governor Li Wenliang added that through the charter flight model, Kinmen not only deepens its ties with overseas Chinese, but also demonstrates the feasibility of expanding air routes. The county government’s tourism department will consider regular monthly or seasonal flights in the future, developing additional international charter routes to inject momentum into tourism.
Since this was a charter flight, customs, quarantine, and immigration officers were temporarily reassigned from Shuitou Wharf to support Shangyi Airport. Starting from 11 a.m., they were processing arrivals and departures until 3 p.m., before they could take a meal break—a tough task. Many local passengers joked: "It really feels like going abroad!" Some families traveled together, exclaiming, "No transfers needed—going abroad as a whole family is just wonderful!"