Malaysia and Brunei would revive joint travel promotions to lure tourists to Borneo island's unexplored beauty spots, Tourism minister said today.

Culture, Arts and Tourism minister Abdul Kadir Fadzir said an agreement was reached in his discussions with the Brunei government and tourism operators Thursday.

The "Borneo package", which was halted several years ago, would be re-launched soon involving promotions to Malaysia's Sarawak and Sabah states, Labuan island and Brunei on Borneo, he said.

"A similar package was launched previously but fizzled out due to the haze and the Coxsackie incidents," he was quoted as saying by Bernama news agency.

Borneo island, shared by Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia, was covered by a fire smog that has shrouded much of Southeast Asia in 1997 and to a lesser extent in 1998.

Brunei proposal paper

Sarawak was also hit by the Coxsackie virus B, an airborne viral attack, in 1997 that led to the deaths of some 25 infants.

Abdul Kadir said the government was awaiting a proposal paper from the Brunei Tourism Promotion Board on the joint promotions, adding that the costs of the promotions would be borne by the two governments.

No other details were immediately available. (AFP)