KUALA LUMPUR – Travel for tourism will be allowed between states under the recovery movement control order (RMCO), said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The senior minister told a briefing this evening that the decision on the “targeted travel bubble” is effective tomorrow, and subject to strict conditions.
He said would-be domestic tourists must use tour agency vehicles, whose operators have to first seek permission from police to cross state borders.
“Using private vehicles for travel is not allowed because police will have a difficult time monitoring their movement.”
Tourism travel is still not allowed in areas under the conditional movement control order (CMCO), he said, adding that those in RMCO states cannot go for a holiday in CMCO states.
He said such travel between RMCO states via a CMCO state is permissible, provided that tour transport operators do not stop midway.
“For example, those travelling from Putrajaya wanting to go for a holiday in Melaka can do so by travelling through Negri Sembilan without making a stop.”
At present, the states under RMCO are Melaka, Pahang, Terengganu, Sabah, Putrajaya, Labuan and Perlis.
Ismail Sabri also announced that Kedah’s Langkawi, a top tourism destination, will be under the RMCO from tomorrow.
The decision was made as the island has been declared a green zone, with its last two coronavirus patients declared free of the disease on February 20.
He said live events in CMCO and RMCO places will be allowed, so long as venues in CMCO areas are only 50% filled, while the audience capacity for those in RMCO areas will be decided based on the size of the premises.
Further details and conditions are laid out in the National Security Council’s guidelines, he added. – The Vibes, March 9, 2021
