The tourism industry stands to benefit from the government’s move to further relax Covid-19 restrictions from May 1, with fully vaccinated travellers aged 13 and above no longer required to undergo Covid-19 tests before and after arrival, while travellers under 12 will not need to undergo Covid-19 tests upon arrival regardless of their vaccination status.
Travellers also no longer need to have Covid-19 insurance coverage to enter the country.
Entry to all premises will be allowed for everyone, and check-ins with the MySejahtera app for contact tracing purposes will no longer be required.
While wearing of face masks is not required outdoors, it is strongly encouraged by the authorities.
Uzaidi Udanis, president, Malaysian Inbound Tourism Association, said the health minister’s recent announcements of further relaxations are timely and very much welcomed by the tourism sector – this would help revive the industry which had been battered by the pandemic.
At the same time, petrol prices are being heavily subsidised by the government, which helps to stabilise the cost of public transportation in the country.
World Avenues Travel & Tours executive director, Ally Bhoonee, a big player in the Middle Eastern market, said the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions coincides with the peak Middle East summer travel season. Pre-pandemic, Middle Eastern travellers were top spenders in Malaysia.
Bhoonee said: ”Removing the hassle of having to take Covid-19 tests will make the destination more attractive to the Middle Eastern traveller. We will use the Arabian Travel Mart tradeshow next month as a platform to broadcast this piece of good news to our partners in the Middle East.”
