International visitors will be paying the lower price for Covid-19 Antigen Rapid Test Kits (RTK-Ag) upon arriving in Sabah.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the test, which is a requirement to enter the state, will cost not more than RM60 ahead of tomorrow's reopening of the country's international borders.

"The state government agrees that RM160 for each test is too high. So, we have decided that it should not be more than RM60.

"This (the price) is the most suitable and will be a relief to the visitors. After more than two years we are now very eager to welcome tourists back," he told reporters after the launch of the Travel Safe Alliance Malaysia (TSAM) in Sabah at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here.

The chief minister was responding to the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) president Datuk Tan Kok Liang's plea on the cost of the tests imposed on international arrivals.

On Sabah's target for tourists arrival this year, Hajiji said: "Before the Covid-19 pandemic struck, we recorded about four million tourist arrivals, so we hope with the reopening of the state's borders we will get more than that." Earlier, Hajiji said the state government through Sabah Tourism Board (STB) had aggressively pursued the resumption of more than 200 direct international flights to Sabah, as the country started to reopen its international borders beginning tomorrow (April 1).

He said following the opening of the state's borders, tourism players should capitalise on Sabah's strategic location to attract more airlines coming to the state.

He added that STB was working closely with airline companies to assist them in re-establishing direct flights for domestic and international travel.

Before the pandemic, KKIA managed 236 direct international flights from 22 cities.

Hajiji also noted that the STB had worked with tourism industry players to hold virtual engagements, travel expos, promotion, and training on destination updates such as re-establishing trade and tourist confidence with many countries.

"I urge industry players and stakeholders to work together to ensure that Sabah's tourism rises to its former glory and remains as one of Malaysia's favourite tourist destinations," he said.

The chief minister said the TSAM certification programme in Sabah complemented the state government's efforts and strategies to revitalise the tourism industry by promoting Sabah as a trusted, safe and attractive tourist destination.

There were 54 Sabah tourism industry players applied for and been recognised by TSAM for meeting tourism health and safety standards.

"The recipients of the TSAM certification today will encourage more tourism players into the fold. The greater hope is that the certification will bring a new chapter to Sabah tourism.

"I thank TSAM for its leadership role. The government welcomes collaboration; partnerships and alliances such as TSAM's. We are confident that this certification initiative will spur domestic and international travel," he said.

TSAM is a partnership among four key players within the tourism industry, namely the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA), Malaysian Association of Hotels (MAH), Malaysian Association of Convention and Exhibition Organisers and Suppliers (MACEOS), and Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG).

TSAM has established a comprehensive safe travel solution certified by Bureau Veritas Certification Malaysia that was launched by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in Langkawi on Oct 10 last year.

To cushion the Covid-19 impact, Hajiji said the state government had disbursed RM10 million in grants to benefit more than 500 tourism projects, including financial assistance to hotels and homestays, tour operators, tour guides, and incentives to encourage domestic and MICE tourism activities, among others.

He said the state government had also allocated RM227.4 million in this year's State Budget to spur tourism growth with a bigger portion going to the development and enhancement of rural community-based tourism, intensifying marketing and promotion as well as strengthening and attracting business events.