Thailand and Malaysia Finalizing “Vaccinated Travel Lane” Guidelines

Thailand and Malaysia tourism authorities are finalizing guidelines for the “Vaccinated Travel Lane” entry program that will remove the mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travelers going between the 2 countries. The new travel system is expected to commence in mid-March, with at least 10 return flights daily.

According to government spokesperson Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana said that significant progress is being made in finalizing the terms between the 2 countries. By mid-March, Vaccinated Travel Lane should be in place for fully vaccinated travelers.

However, as of today, there is still no information on whether Malaysian travelers will still be required to register for Thailand Pass. It is also unclear if the new program would be open to all Malaysian travelers or exclusively to Malaysian residents.  According to the spokesperson, the latest travel arrangement will include up to 6 daily flights between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, as well as 4 daily flights between Phuket and Kuala Lumpur, with the possibility of adding more routes in the future.

It is also reported that Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yakob agreed to the Vaccinated Travel Lane program during discussions on February 25 during his official visit to Krung Thep Maha Nakhon.

Malaysia and Singapore already have a Vaccinated Travel Lane in place. According to the guidelines, travelers visiting Malaysia are needed to pass an RT-PCR test for COVID-19 within 48 hours of their trip, followed by a second test upon arrival before entering the country without quarantine.

A similar strategy between Thailand and Malaysia would help both countries struggling tourism industry.

Cambodia is also expected to join the Vaccinated Travel Lane, which will also include Malaysia and Thailand. According to reports, the Cambodian Vaccinated Travel Lane would operate at least 2 flights daily between Kuala Lumpur and Phnom Penh, with specifics on KL-BKK flights will be released soon.

Malaysia Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Wee Ka Siong said that the primary advantage for travelers utilizing Vaccinated Travel Lane is to remove the mandatory quarantine upon arrival.

“These routes are intended to help our economies in recovering from the pandemic, especially in the tourism industry.”

Singapore Airlines launched a Vaccinated Travel Lane with Phuket last week for fully vaccinated tourists. Thailand has also allowed a travel bubble with India for certain travelers, as ASEAN countries ease travel restrictions.

Source: Bangkok Post

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