KOTA KINABALU: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has been working closely with relevant ministries and agencies to prepare for a travel bubble.
Minister Datuk Nancy Shukri said the government had identified several destinations.
"We have identified a few countries for us to start with the travel bubble; we have also prepared a list of standard operating procedures.
"However, the ministry is still waiting for both countries' borders to open (to execute the travel bubble)," she said during the press conference after the National Tourism Policy roadshow at Sabah International Convention Centre here.
Present were Nancy's deputy minister Datuk Guandee Kohoi, state Tourism, Culture and Environment minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin, as well as the state ministry's permanent secretary Dr Jamili Nais.
Nancy said that opening of borders for international travel fell under the jurisdiction of other ministries and agencies.
She said the opening of the border was not merely about tourism, but also security and safety.
As the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has advised its citizens to avoid all travel to Malaysia, she said it was a fair practice.
"It is quite common for the people to advise their people not to travel to places with high infection rates.
"Even Malaysia has done that... our borders are still closed for people to go out. It's a fair practice," she said.
On the update of the Sabah-Singapore travel bubble, Jafry said the discussion would take place soon.
To date, the federal government has yet to allow interstate travel while in Sabah, people can only travel within designated zones.
Jafry said Sabah welcomes any country interested in the travel bubble concept and could make an application to the State government.