Sarawak is interested in establishing a VTL with Singapore through Kuching or Miri, according to the minister.
Sarawak is considering establishing a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) between Singapore and either Kuching or Miri in order to attract more visitors, according to Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
According to the Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts, a VTL exists between Singapore and Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
There is only one VTL route between Singapore and Malaysia, and that is KLIA to Singapore. We’re attempting to create a Singapore-Sarawak (VTL) route through Kuching or Miri. According to a press conference held after attending an event at the Pandelela Rinong Aquatic Centre, if this can be realised soon, it will be great news for us (Sarawak).
Abdul Karim, who is also the Minister of Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development, was glad to learn that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who recently visited Thailand for business, had declared that Malaysia and Thailand would work out a VTL. Despite the lack of a direct flight between Thailand and Sarawak, he was pleased to hear such news. Sarawak is also considering constructing a VTL with neighbouring nations such as Indonesia in order to attract more visitors to the state, he said.
The VTL between Brunei and Sararawak, Malaysia, would be inaugurated shortly, according to the Prime Minister, and the Sultan of Brunei has stated the same. In terms of visitor numbers, that (Brunei) is our most popular entry. Brunei was the country that brought in the most visitors before Covid-19 (to Sarawak). So, if they open the door (border), if the VTL is wide open, he believes it will only be a matter of time until we get back to normal in terms of tourists coming in. According to Abdul Karim, Sarawak had already seen an uptick in the number of visitors coming in.
In January and February of this year, he said, tourist arrivals in the state increased by 400 to 500 percent compared to the same period last year. He’s relieved to see that we’re coping – things aren’t as awful as they were. It appears that the world, as well as Malaysia, particularly Sarawak, is improving.
Abdul Karim said the country was gradually slipping into an endemic state, though he couldn’t predict when the government would announce it. Some countries have begun to open their borders. He hopes that if our (border) door is opened (later), he would be able to witness guests coming in and Sarawakians flying away.
