Pangkor on track to be reopened for tourism, says Nolee

IPOH: A few conditions have to be fulfilled before Pulau Pangkor is opened to visitors under a travel bubble, says Perak Tourism Committee chairman Datuk Nolee Ashilin Mohammad Radzi.

She said that the island has yet to fulfil some of the compulsory requirements, and added that the state government was working on that.

"I am closely working with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to ensure that the required conditions are fulfilled as soon as possible," she said

"Once we get the green light from the Ministry as well as the National Security Council, the island will be included in the travel bubble," Nolee added at a press conference after the state executive council meeting at the state secretariat building on Wednesday (Sept 22).

Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri had proposed for the travel bubble initiative to be expanded to three new destinations: Melaka, Pulau Tioman and Genting Highlands.

She had said that the three locations, which would be given two weeks to make the necessary preparations before reopening.

Pangkor was part of the ministry’s Covid-19-Free Destination Programme, which also included Redang, Perhentian and Tioman.

Nolee added that among the conditions that needed attention were matters concerning the preparation of operators, crowding, checking of digital vaccination certificates and Covid-19 screening tests at entry points

"We also need to coordinate on the number of residents that have been vaccinated on the island which is being done currently, before a report is presented to the ministry.

"We are trying our best to get all the necessary work done fast, and hopefully we are able to open the island to fully vaccinated tourists even before our Nov 1 target," she added.