According to Sarawak's Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the inter-state travel ban should remain in effect until the situation in Covid 19 improves.

He said it was not adequate now for the tourism industry to lift the ban because there were so many positive cases.

"As much as I would love to see the opening of our borders, whether to foreigners or visitors from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, looking at the situation we are facing now with positive cases in the thousands, I think the time is not right yet to open up," he told reporters.

Karim also says that now with the Covid-19 restrictions, few people are willing to travel.

"Even if borders are opened, I don't think anyone would come in because traveling is taboo now and those who come will be subject to quarantine.

"These restrictions will not encourage people to travel," he said.

Last Friday Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, former Minister of Prime Minister's Office called on the Government to lift the inter-state travel ban to help the Sabah and Sarawak tourism industries recover.

"Allow people to travel from the peninsula to Sabah and Sarawak without the need for a police permit or special approval," he said on Facebook, adding that Sabah had strict requirements, including negative Covid-19 test results, for those traveling to the state.

Interstate travel is currently not permitted under the ongoing movement control order except with police permission.