Domestic "revenge visitors" are expected to improve Malaysia's battered leisure travel sector once it is safe to travel again, according to Tourism Malaysia director-general Zulkifly Md Said.

"Our domestic tourists are eager to return to the United States, especially for interstate travel. "They would cross state boundaries if they were allowed to," he said at the launch of ITB Berlin Now.

With the recent lifting of the interdistrict travel ban, Tourism Malaysia has observed encouraging travel movement, according to Zulkifly.

"Hotels are filling up with weekend staycationers. People want to relax at a hotel and do some sightseeing in the city because they've been stuck at home for too long," he said, adding that airlines can add more domestic routes.

The word "revenge tourism" refers to people's strong desire to travel after being trapped at home due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tourism operators in Malaysia, according to Zulkifly, are prepared to welcome tourists once tourism activities resume in full.

Tourism is currently permitted in areas that are subject to a conditional movement control order and a recovery MCO.

Tourism activities in conditional MCO areas, however, will be restricted to 50 percent of the premises' power, according to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri.

Zoos, cultural heritage sites, museums, farms, aquariums, edutainment centers, recreational parks, theme parks, extreme and nature park outlets are among the activities permitted, according to him.

Travelers and tourism operators, however, must adhere to strict standard operating procedures, according to Zulkifly (SOP).

"The increase in cases at the end of last year taught us a lesson" (when interstate travel was allowed). Non-compliance with SOP has resulted in an increase in Covid-19 cases since then.

"When interstate travel is reintroduced, we will have a duty to follow the SOP. "We don't want MCO 3.0," he said.

Zulkifly also stated that the country is considering health passes, such as the International Air Transport Associations (IATA) Travel Pass, to make post-pandemic travel easier.

"For starters, we need a legitimate document that can be recognized within the Asean region." For the protection of the travelers as well as the country they are visiting, the document should not be easily forged," he added.