Malaysia's borders will reopen to international travellers on January 1st

Malaysia will reopen its borders to international travellers by January 1 at the latest, according to a government advisory council, as the country attempts to restore its flagging tourism industry.

In recent weeks, the Southeast Asian country's economy has gradually reopened as coronavirus infection rates have slowed as a result of a more aggressive vaccination effort.

According to government figures, more than three-quarters of Malaysia's 32 million people are vaccinated.

Former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, who chairs a committee entrusted with directing Malaysia's economic recovery effort, told reporters that the tourist industry was recovering too slowly without foreign visitors, and that operators needed time to go back into business.

Infection control procedures such as Covid-19 testing would remain in effect, according to Muhyiddin, with authorities determining admittance depending on the Covid-19 situation in originating countries and other criteria.

He could not say when a specific date for reopening would be given, but said health and security officials were still working through the details.

Malaysia said this week that on November 29, it will open a vaccinated travel lane with neighbouring Singapore, allowing immunised citizens to travel freely between the two nations.

It has also promised to gradually introduce a comparable transit corridor with Indonesia.