Sabah to discuss need for VTL with countries whose borders are still closed

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment will discuss the need to create a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) for those travelling between the state and regional countries which still have not reopened their borders.

Its Assistant Minister, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said the VTL was the stimulus needed to boost the state's economy and stressed that his ministry and the industry players were prepared to receive international tourists.

"The ministry has been holding engagements on this matter and it has submitted proposals to the State COVID-19 Disaster Management Committee on implementing the VTL for those travelling between Kota Kinabalu and Singapore.

"Based on the engagement sessions with the industry players, we know that they are already prepared. However, we should submit the proposals to the state committee involving the National Security Council (MKN), Ministry of Health (MOH) and the relevant departments and agencies for them to assess the risk of implementing the VTL.

"But there has been no decision yet on this," he said to a question from Datuk Yong Teck Lee (SAPP-Appointed) during the State Legislative Assembly sitting here today, on whether the state government planned to create the VTL for visitors from other countries to Sabah.

Joniston said the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Transport Ministry, MOH and MKN were responsible for the VTL implementation process with their counterparts in other countries.

"When Malaysia's borders are reopened from April 1, there is no need for the VTL except involving travellers from countries whose borders are still closed.

"The ministry will try to discuss it with these countries for implementation of the VTL while also holding engagement sessions with airline companies.

"So far, Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Cebu Pacific Air, Scoot, Jeju Air and Air Seoul are among those which have decided to start direct flights to Sabah," he added.

To a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Senallang) on the need to increase the domestic air routes, Joniston believed that the airlines would increase the flight frequencies if there was a demand for it.

He said connection between the towns in Sabah and between Sabah and the other states was important to boost domestic tourism.

There are direct flights between Penang and Kota Kinabalu, Kuala Terengganu-Kota Kinabalu, Johor Bahru-Kota Kinabalu and Kota Bharu-Kota Kinabalu, among the destinations.

-- BERNAMA