KUALA LUMPUR: The relaxation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and reopening of more activities within the tourism sector hinges on the outcome of the Langkawi travel bubble.
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said he will discuss with Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri on the SOPs required to be updated and improved ahead of the implementation of the Langkawi travel bubble.
Langkawi has been picked as the first tourism destination under the pioneer travel bubble project as the country gears towards treating the Covid-19 as an endemic by end of next month.
"Today, I will discuss with her on what will happen within these two days. We will discuss matters related to testing and vaccinations which are important matters (under the implementation of the travel bubble).
"This is because the success of the Langkawi travel bubble will influence our future decision (related to the reopening of more activities under the tourism sector," he told reporters here today.
Earlier, Hishammuddin chaired the Covid-19 Quartet Ministers Meeting at Parliament building today.
The meeting was attended by Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz and Multimedia and Communications Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa.
"During the meeting with Nancy, I want to stress for her to come up with a SOP that will not result in a spike in cases from the implementation of the travel bubble.
"Most importantly, the people going to travel in Langkawi must be discplined… they must get themselves vaccinated first," he said.
For the time being, Hishammuddin, who heads the country's Covid-19 response efforts, said he would not allow the reopening of other tourist destinations.
"It is incumbent on her ministry to prove to us they can do it for Langkawi before they reopen other tourism destinations.
"(Pending the outcome of the Langkawi travel bubble), I will not allow it (reopening of other tourism destination)," he said.