Malaysians have begin cancelling tour bookings to destinations such as Vietnam, Hong Kong and China in reaction to the incidence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).

On Wednesday, Transport Minister Dr Ling Liong Sik said the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) received some 600 cancellations of flight bookings over the past two weeks, resulting in a three percent drop in flights.

The World Health Organisation has issued a travel advisory recommending the postponement of travel to Hong Kong and Guangdong (the Chinese province bordering Hong Kong), which are the two worst-hit areas in the region.