KUCHING, Feb 17 — The implementation of the air and land Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) initiative for cross-border movements between Malaysia and Brunei will help in the recovery of the Sarawak tourism industry, said the Sarawak Tourism Board (STB).
STB chief executive officer Sharzede Salleh said the decision would ease border movements in the northern part of the state which is close to Brunei.
“We are confident that the reopening of Brunei borders will bode well for us, as Miri, Limbang and Lawas borders are the closest to Brunei, and Sarawak has always been a state that attracts travellers from Brunei and around the world,” she said in a statement today.
She said the announcement of the Malaysia-Brunei VTL, which came after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s meeting with Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah earlier this week, augured well for Scoot Tigerair’s plan to start direct flights from Singapore to Miri on Feb 22.
“The opening of this new route between Singapore and Miri reinforces the confidence the airline has in Sarawak as an investment destination, given the stability and growth potential of the state,” she said.
Sharzede said 2022 is a year of resilience, resurgence and growth for the travel industry, and STB will continue focusing on building and creating new ways of doing business beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Our unique blend of culture, adventure, nature, food and festivals (CANFF) will remain our driving force, and we remain committed to creating meaningful experience for our travellers whilst spearheading responsible tourism initiatives” she said.
