Decision soon on more travel bubbles

 

KUALA LUMPUR: The government is expected to decide soon on having Langkawi-like travel bubbles for other islands and easing restrictions on movements to non-island destinations.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said the ministry and state authorities would study the pilot travel bubble project in Langkawi and submit a report to the government so that the National Security Council (NSC) could make a decision on it.

"As we continue to review and monitor Langkawi, we have submitted the mechanics that we see fit. However, the NSC is deciding whether it will be a bubble, interstate allowances or a full revocation of interstate restrictions.

"We will make our recommendations based on the standard operating procedures (SOP)."

She said a list of proposed islands had been submitted.

The ministry had worked with state governments to establish updated vaccination information of the populace and the preparedness of local authorities and industry players.

"Like for Langkawi previously, we would recommend that those planning to travel take a swab test a few hours before their trip."

She said with the reopening of Langkawi, it was crucial to level the playing field for other island operators, especially those in the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia who have just a few weeks left in October before the monsoon season arrives.

Langkawi's pilot travel bubble project initially came under fire as the government did not include a Covid-19 negative swab test requirement.

However, a ministry source told the New Sunday Times that its earlier travel bubble recommendations highlighted a non-negotiable condition that travellers needed to test negative for Covid-19 before their departure.

The source said this had been left out before the bubble's SOP was issued by the NSC.

It was also understood that the ministry had recommended that travel bubbles cover all islands that were popular beach destinations instead of just Langkawi.

A total of a 2,546 people were screened at air and sea entry points into Langkawi. Of the number, five were found positive on the first day of the bubble's implementation on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Nancy said airlines, hoteliers and ferry consortiums had committed to allowing Covid-19 positive travellers to defer their flight and stay dates.

-nst online.