JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA - Malaysia and Singapore should consider passportless travel to increase tourism, said Tourism Minister Azalina Othman.

She said that an informal and open entry system would be more convenient for tourists from Singapore, as half of the 14.1 million Singaporean tourists who entered Malaysia between January and August this year came through Johor.

'At present, they face traffic congestion and much hassle coming into Malaysia via the Causeway and Second Link,' she told reporters last Saturday.

Datuk Seri Azalina said the tourism sector was the second highest income earner and that a more open approach was needed if the government felt that the sector had good potential.

'It will be good if we can start during special events like the midnight sale or during the festive season,' she said.

She added that she could talk to her Singapore counterparts about a passportless travel system.

'I believe in the 'one destination, two countries' concept for Malaysia and Singapore,' she said.