Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta) president Tan Kok Liang said: “Both business and leisure travellers will surely welcome this. It will be very good for tourism and create a spin-off effect, with hotels, the transport sector and restaurants filling up.

“The chief minister sees the necessity to move tourism forward and boost the arrival (of tourists).”

Chief minister Hajiji Noor announced earlier today that fully vaccinated visitors can enter Sabah from Dec 1 without the need for swab tests.

Hajiji said Sabah is also fully prepared to welcome international arrivals as soon as Malaysia reopens its borders next year.

Tan said the tourism industry looked forward to more vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) or similar clear mechanisms with other countries.

“Our closest neighbour Singapore already has VTL arrangements with 15 countries and will add another six to that list by Dec 6.

“We urge the government to establish more VTLs or travel bubbles soon to capture the pent-up demand, especially during the coming holiday season. Popular tourist destinations such as Kota Kinabalu and Penang should not be overlooked in addition to Langkawi,” he said.

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