The State Department for Immigration has agreed to extend Chinese tourists ' visas to a maximum of six days after expiry at Kota Kinabalu headquarters. It refers however only to those who came before 31 January in Sabah.

"After showing valid return tickets the visas will be extended. And the decision was made to waive the local FIT (free and independent traveler) guarantee requirement. The RM 100 visa extension fee is still applied," said Datuk Christina Liew, Minister for State Tourism, Culture, and the Environment.

This was one of the measures to address the Chinese tourists ' repatriation stranded in Sabah following an official travel ban imposed on Chinese tourists due to the coronavirus epidemic following a special meeting on Monday.

Airlines comprised Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Malindo Airlines, Chinese South Airlines, Malindo South Airlines and China East Shanghai airlines, including Sabah Immigration Department, Malaysia Airports, Berhad and the associated airliners.

She said there were two problems in the discussion – expiring visas and travel plans for those affected back in China, except Wuhan. The discussion was based on two topics.

Liew, also Deputy Chief Minister, said that the airlines concerned agreed to waive the cancelation charges for those who canceled their flights.

"The options for booking rebooking flights from Kuala Lumpur to China are also open. For additional information about the flight available for their return journey, we advise stranded passengers to visit the airlines ' webpage," she added.

The Minister also led a meeting on Monday with tourism groups and health agencies, in which Dr. Sahrol Nizam bin Abu Bakar, Principal Assistant Director (Unit for Health Surveillance), of the State Health Department, briefed the Minister on the outbreak of coronavirus.

Liew directed STB to hold a new Coronavirus briefing (2019-nCoV) for immigration agencies, hotels, airlines, tour operators and guides as soon as possible.

"It is vital that all State tourism industry leaders are informed about the current state of health authorities, control and preventive measures to prevent viral infection," she said.