Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri said this would then allow specific flights into certain locations that are green zones, although the country might not be one.

Citing Perth and Langkawi as examples, she said travellers could be allowed to and from these locations as they both had the ability to facilitate international flights and were green zones.

However, she said plans for a travel bubble were still at an early stage, adding that the ministry was still monitoring the situation in countries identified as green zones.

“We’re no longer talking about countries, but locations or destinations. It doesn’t have to be the whole country, because countries that are green may change overnight,” she said at a press conference after launching the “Meet in Malaysia” campaign here today.

“We are working with the health ministry and the foreign affairs minister. This offers potential for the market to contribute to the nation’s economic growth.”

In her speech at the launch of the campaign, Nancy said the ministry had identified Australia, Brunei, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam as countries with the potential to have a travel bubble with.

“The proposal to hold a travel bubble with these countries is based on the potential of the market to contribute to overall economic growth, including trade activities, business, business travellers and the influx of foreign tourists,” she said.

Malaysia’s borders with Singapore are set to open on Aug 10, although Nancy said this was only for essential business and official travellers.

The Reciprocal Green Lane will allow entry to travellers on essential business and for official purposes. They will be swabbed upon entry and required to submit an itinerary for their visits.

Meanwhile, the Periodic Commuting Arrangement allows citizens with long-term immigration passes to enter either country for work purposes.