Following the relaxation of SOPs for fully vaccinated individuals announced by Prime Minister Ismail Sabri, Sabah's Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin says the state is ready to introduce the travel bubble concept in order to enhance local tourism. 

This will allow local tourists to travel beyond the districts, given that they have completed their vaccination. With that being said, hotels and travel agencies will still be required to obtain pre-approval from the Covid-19 Disaster Management Committee in order to participate in the programme. 

Like what is being implemented in Langkawi, all tours and stays must be pre-booked through registered travel agencies and hotels, while strictly following SOPs. Datuk Jafry Ariffin added, "Guests must be transported from point to point basis, maintaining a contactless concept travel with the pre-booked arrangement, and employees of tour operators, hotels, resorts, and homestays must be fully vaccinated."

Looks like Malaysia is slowly healing and breaking away from the national lockdown that has robbed us most of our 2021. Let's hope this won't cause another irreversible outbreak.