Thailand Plans to Re-Open Malaysia-Thai border in March

BANGKOK: Thailand is planning to reopen the Thai-Malaysia border in March to boost tourist arrivals, as Malaysian tourists have been the largest group of visitors to the kingdom before the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and Tourism Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) has been ordered to prepare and outline the pandemic mitigation measures for the reopening of the southern border provinces in the checkpoints of Songkhla, Narathiwat, Yala and Satun.

"Tourists from neighbouring Malaysia will enter Thailand via quarantine-free 'Test & Go' programme.

However, travellers need to pass two RT-PCR Covid-19 tests on Day 1 upon arrival and the second on Day 5," said Foreign Affairs Ministry's deputy spokesman Natapanu Nopakun at Covid-19 daily briefing here today.

At present, under the "Test & Go' programme, travellers have to apply Thailand Pass before entering the kingdom where they need to purchase a medical insurance with minimum coverage of US$50,000 and RT-PCR Covid-19 test result 72 hours before travelling.

Besides that, travellers have to pre-book SHA Extra certified hotel and RT-PCR Covid-19 tests for Day 1 and Day 5.

Thailand had opened its door to fully vaccinated visitors from 63 countries and territories via the 'Test & Go' effective November 2021. However, the programme was suspended in late December over concerns about the spread of Omicron variant.

"Test & Go" was resumed on Feb 1 in bid to revive its tourism sector as Covid-19 infection is seen slowing down in the kingdom. As of Feb 13, a total of 39,277 visitors had entered Thailand via the quarantine free programme.

Meanwhile, Deputy Government spokesman Dr. Ratchada Thanadirek said Thailand and Malaysia have been working closely on the reopening of border next month.

In March 2020, Thailand closed nine checkpoints with Malaysia to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Thailand has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic with only about 200,000 arrivals last year compared to nearly 40 million visitors in 2019 and 6.7 million in 2020.

Source: New Straits Times