KUCHING: Conditional entry and some restrictions should be imposed on Chinese tourists as the Covid-19 situation in the country has not yet fully subsided.
Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that he personally saw the matter could be implemented if Sarawak accepted the influx of tourists.
However, he said his ministry agreed with the decision of the federal government and the Sarawak government through the Sarawak Disaster Management Committee (SDMC) to either accept Chinese tourists at this time or allow for conditional entry.
“Personally, I believe there should be some restrictions and conditions to accept the entry of Chinese tourists until the Covid-19 situation in the country has subsided,” he said on Monday (Jan 2).
On the same note, he said that Malaysia and the world also needed to be careful in deciding to accept the entry of Chinese tourists, as a measure to avoid the spread of Covid-19 from their country.
He said this was because the Covid-19 problem in the country had not yet been fully resolved.
“The opening of the border by China may cause further spread of Covid-19 to neighbouring countries, including Malaysia.”
China reportedly will reopen its borders on Jan 8, after nearly three years of closure.
So far, Morocco has decided to impose an entry ban on tourists from China starting Jan 3 due to the increase in cases.
Additionally, the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, Italy and Spain will enforce new travel requirements for those arriving from China, including negative test results.
