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The travel bubble approach has been recommended by the authorities for now, as safety must be a priority. SUTERAATMANTANANI.COM via The Straits Times / Asia News Network
KOTA BELUD – The Sabah government is working on a unique travel bubble scheme to allow Singapore tourists to enter the state after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Jafry Ariffin said his ministry is awaiting the green light from the state Cabinet for the plan while discussions with various stakeholders continue.
“We are in talks with Sutera Harbor Resort (SHR) and Sutera @ Mantanani to provide a separate and safe travel route from Singapore directly to Kota Kinabalu and Mantanani Island (Kota Belud).
“On the part of our ministry, we need to adjust this with stakeholders like Malaysia Airports Holdings so that we can adjust our SOP (standard operating procedure) where necessary.
“Then we will talk to the Ministry of Tourism and Singapore. So it will most likely happen after Hari Raya, ”he told reporters after launching 40 new premium villas at the Sutera @ Mantanani Island Resort and Spa on Wednesday (March 31).
Commenting on the event, he said he hopes the new villas, which are additions to the 30 existing ones, will have a multiplier effect on local communities.
Responding to a suggestion from the Malaysian Association of Travel and Tourism Agents (Matta) that Sabah should prepare a roadmap and timetable on reopening the borders for international travel, he said the ministry is doing everything possible, but that safety should be a priority. , the travel bubble approach has been recommended for now.
SHR Group CEO Gilbert Ee said the company’s priority is to provide employment to the local community, especially young people who are interested in venturing into the world of hospitality but are unable to do so due to difficulties. financial or other obstacles.
Meanwhile, Magellan Sutera Resort CEO Adrián de Rozario believed that the travel bubble approach would be the way forward for tourism as the sector recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic.
He expressed his support and welcomed the state government’s effort to develop travel SOPs, with SHR being the first approved tour operator for bubble travel activities for its Mantanani property.
“Since we were allowed to be part of the travel bubble in early March, our Mantanani facilities have received 60% occupancy from premises, even reaching 90% on weekends,” said de Rozario, who also oversees Sutera @ Mantanani.
He said that while the travel bubble meant stricter standard operating procedures were applied, the resort was able to accommodate tourists and staff were trained to ensure their maximum security.
“I don’t see any problems or challenges as visitors are eager to go on vacation and will cooperate and follow protocol.
“I think that as we recover from Covid-19, travel bubbles will be a new way to travel for the time being, even on a larger scale, with country-to-country agreements,” he added.
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