The VTL, which was launched on Nov 8 by Malaysia and Singapore, will enable fully-vaccinated Malaysians and Singaporeans to travel between the two countries without the need to observe any quarantine.

The reopening of air travel between the two countries on Nov 29, will also see arrivals just having to take a Covid-19 test. Further details on the VTL have not been announced as yet.

The VTL will also be the first scheme to allow visitors from another country to visit Malaysia without the need to quarantine.

Andhini Putri, vice-president for marketing transport and financial services at travel booking platform Traveloka, told The Straits Times that it had received a double-digit percentage growth in bookings for flights between the two countries after the announcement.

Expedia Group Brands’ Asia head of communications Lavinia Rajaram added the platform had observed a 17-fold increase in terms of search volumes for flights between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur

The search for accommodation in Kuala Lumpur had also increased by 60%.

Malaysians in Singapore welcomed the announcement, but many were hoping that the eased border restrictions will be extended to other modes of travel soon.

Research fellow Lim Sin Mei said many Malaysians in Singapore prefer to return home by land.

“In the event of any emergency, I will consider taking a VTL flight back to Kuala Lumpur and returning home (to Melaka) from there.

“Otherwise, I will wait until January next year to see if there is a better option to return,” she was quoted as saying by the Singapore daily.

Meanwhile, tourism industry players did not expect the VTL announcement to have an immediate impact on Malaysia’s economy.

“This is a good start, but this will be used by those intending to visit families or by business travellers too. We do not foresee any major impact in the first month,” said Abu Fadzil, the head of operations and customer service at Asian Trails Malaysia.