The Sabah Minister for Tourism, Culture, and the environment has called on the tourism and cultural premises to be prepared in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) as tourists can be received in the Sabah Movement Control Order (MCO), following the relaxation of restrictions.

In conditional MCO and recovery MCO areas at 50 per cent capacity it was announced last week that tourism and cultural activity are allowed to resume.

In a statement, Minister Jafry Ariffin said that the zoos, aquariums, centers for edutainments, nature and recreation parks and farms are among those that have been permitted to open.

Culture and arts premises include libraries, galleries and museums.

"All parties - visitors and tourism players - in Sabah must continue to be alert and follow SOPS.

"We don't know how long this pandemic will be around.

"So, we must be disciplined in practising the new norm for tourism activities," Jafry said.

In the light of that, he said, the tourism sector is positioning itself in the near future for a "travel bubble"

"Of course, it depends on the current situation and with the aim of seeing Sabah in recovery MCO status soon.

"A successful vaccination programme will also be a main factor in the reopening of borders and towards normalising travel and international tourism," he added.