The tourism company that transported tourists from Alor Setar, Kedah, to Genting Highlands, Pahang, was found to have followed all of the guidelines established for the Targeted Domestic Tourism Movement Bubble.

According to the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (Motac), two buses were involved in the trip, which began on April 22 and ended on April 24, and was organised by a registered tourism company in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

“Preliminary investigations found that the company had complied with all the conditions set in the standard operating procedure (SOP) for travel arrangements under the Targeted Domestic Tourism Movement Bubble.

“However, after returning from Genting Highlands, there were passengers who had symptoms of fever and were examined at the health clinic,” said a statement from the ministry.

The Health Ministry (MOH) detected 16 individuals who were confirmed positive from screenings performed on 28 people from the group of tourists on May 7, and the process of detecting close contacts is still being carried out by the Alor Setar Health Department.

According to the statement, the original source of the Covid-19 contact in this case has yet to be identified, and MOH is conducting an investigation.

Meanwhile, Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukry reminded tour operators to always follow the SOP on tourism activities established to ensure tourist safety.