Malaysia

High time for Sabah to open doors to Singapore via VTL: minister

Datuk Jafry Ariffin says move will revive state’s economy, tourism sector

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 06 Mar 2022 3:34PM

High time for Sabah to open doors to Singapore via VTL: minister
Sabah’s touris minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin says the ministry has recommended reopening its doors to visitors from Singapore via VTL and is awaiting approval from the state Covid-19 Disaster Management Committee. – Pixabay pic, March 6, 2022

by Rebecca Chong

KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government is considering reopening its doors to tourists from Singapore via the Vaccination Travel Lane (VTL) to revive the state’s tourism sector. 

Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said that the ministry had recommended this to the state Covid-19 Disaster Management Committee for consideration and is now awaiting approval. 

“It is to allow fully vaccinated individuals to travel to and from Singapore via air travel.  

“It is time for Sabah to follow the steps of several states such as Penang, which will start its VTL initiative this coming March 16,” he said in a statement today. 

Jafry said that such a move is important for the recovery of the economic and business network between Malaysia and Singapore, especially in the tourism sector, which has been badly hit by the pandemic. 

“I am sure that the ministry and tourism industry players in Sabah are ready to receive foreign tourists coupled with stricter standard operating procedures to avoid the spread of the Omicron variant in the state,” he added. –The Vibes, March 6, 2022

Related News

Opinion / 6d

Why Malaysia lacks progress in geothermal energy?

Events / 1mth

Hong Kong shopping festival makes ASEAN debut in Malaysia

Events / 2mth

NestBloom steps up regional expansion with Malaysia entry 

World / 2mth

Singapore launches world’s first data centre powered by living human brain cells

World / 2mth

Former Singapore president now thinks twice about patting children after Roxy Square incident

Malaysia / 2mth

S'pore driver involved in altercation with Malaysian policeman near Woodlands Checkpoint

Spotlight

Malaysia

Eight homes evacuated after recurring landslides raise safety fears in Shah Alam

Malaysia

Najib’s pension suspended, Saifuddin confirms

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Melaka PRN: PH to abolish seven appointed state assembly positions

Malaysia

Naked body of woman found floating in river

Malaysia

Dzulkefly praises HKL’s success in reattaching police officer’s hand

Malaysia

Four homes remain unsafe as Penang landslide stabilisation takes up to five months

Malaysia

1MDB allowed to admit affidavit of Rosmah’s shopping partner in its case

Malaysia

Najib faces four conditions under house arrest, including restrictions on movement and visitors

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

You may be interested

Malaysia

Police officer who was attacked can move some of his fingers – Fahmi

Malaysia

Najib restricted to immediate family under house arrest

By Alfian Z.M. Tahir

Malaysia

Seven schoolgirls allegedly sexually assaulted by retired teacher, 17 charges filed

Malaysia

KL police chief warns officers against hesitation when facing armed threats

Malaysia

Malaysian Bar seeks to halt Najib's house arrest pending court challenge

Malaysia

Microsoft outage drags into Asia-Pacific business hours as recovery efforts falter

Malaysia

Malaysia seeks resumption of Taiwan economic talks while maintaining One China policy

Malaysia

Anwar demands firm action over attack that severed policeman's wrist