Govt looking to lift interstate travel ban for tourism recovery: Nancy

KUALA LUMPUR – The government is expected to deliberate in the next couple of days the possibility of lifting the ongoing interstate travel ban, the Dewan Rakyat was told. 

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (Batang Sadong-GPS) said this in explaining the government’s efforts to assist tourism industry players that have been struggling to cope due to restrictions imposed via the various movement control orders. 

To further boost the economy of the tourism sector, she said several key destinations have been identified by the ministry. 

“This does not only involve island destinations, but also mainland areas such as Genting Highlands, Cameron Highlands, Fraser’s Hill, and other destinations that may draw public interest to travel. 

“Tourism is all about mobility. When people move, the economy improves.’

Nancy was responding to a proposal from Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar-Independent) to expand the tourism travel bubble that is currently exclusive to Langkawi and Labuan. 

Syed Saddiq said this is necessary to avoid congestion in the location, as well as to assist tourism players in other destinations in the country. 

Earlier, to a question from Tan Kok Wai (Cheras-PH), Nancy said Langkawi was picked as the travel bubble pilot project for international tourism. 

“Langkawi has quite a huge population, and it has an airport that accepts international flights,” she said. 

She added that it is vital that the country reopens tourism to international travellers, claiming the industry cannot be sustained on domestic tourism alone. 

She said that other than Langkawi, other islands that have been identified for potential travel destinations next are Redang, Perhentian, Pangkor and Tioman. 

Yesterday, Nancy had said that a report on Langkawi’s reopening would be submitted to the government for future decisions involving the tourism industry.

She had said the government would soon decide on introducing travel bubbles for other islands and easing restrictions for non-island destinations. – The Vibes, September 20, 2021