KUANTAN: The Pahang government is accelerating vaccination in Pulau Tioman as part of its efforts to achieve herd immunity and reopen the island to visitors.
State Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Sharkar Shamsudin said once 80 per cent of the population on the island have been vaccinated, Tioman could be opened within a tourism green bubble similar to the plans adopted for Pulau Langkawi in Kedah.
"The state government will speed up vaccination as this will be a good initiative to get domestic tourism back on track. Once Pulau Tioman achieves herd immunity, the travel bubble can be implemented to help the tourism industry players generate income.
"Once given the go ahead, holidaymakers can travel straight to destinations placed under the tourism green bubble. The vital requirement includes that the tourism industry players and the travellers must have completed their vaccinations," he said when contacted.
On Facebook, Sharkar wrote the travel bubble has helped countries like Australia and New Zealand develop the tourism sector as well as related economy involving transportation, accommodation and food.
"This meets the main strategy of tourism, which is to restore the people's confidence to travel and can go on to spur the domestic tourism sector. However, strict measures will be in place to ensure there is no Covid-19 outbreak when the tourism bubble is implemented.
"Once the herd community is achieved, then other tourist destinations including Taman Negara Kuala Tahan in Jerantut, Kuala Gandah National Elephant Conservation Centre in Temerloh, Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands and Fraser's Hill can reopen," he said.
On June 24, Covid-19 National Immunisation Programme coordinating minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the government has started a mass vaccination exercise in Pulau Langkawi to make the island a tourism green bubble.
Tourism operators in Pulau Tioman were keeping their fingers crossed hoping for the vaccination programme on the island which began today would help pave the way for the island to achieve the green bubble.
The National Covid-19 Immunisation Plan (NIP) for Pulau Tioman held between today and July 4 targets to vaccine some 1,700 people on the island.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail is scheduled to visit Pulau Tioman and check on the vaccination progress tomorrow.