KUALA LUMPUR: In ushering the reopening for international tourists next year, Sabah has relaxed the prerequisite to enter the state for visitors.

Starting Dec 1, State Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the government exclude swab tests requirement as long as visitors are fully vaccinated.

He made the announcement during the official opening of the 49th Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair at PWTC here today.

As far as accommodation facilities are concerned, he said it was adequate to meet the expected demand coupled with an additional 3,506 rooms expected to be available with the completion of 11 new hotel developments in 2022.

“By November 2021, there are already 266 weekly direct flights into Sabah from Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru, Penang, Kota Bharu, Labuan, and Sarawak, with a total capacity of 43,000 seats.

“Within Sabah, there are 123 weekly flights with a total capacity of 16,720 seats connecting Kota Kinabalu, Lahad Datu, Sandakan, and Tawau,” he said.