By May 1, Thailand wants all land border crossings between Thailand and Malaysia reopened

Thailand – Thailand is working closely with necessary authorities to restore all land border entry points with Malaysia by May 1 in order to enhance its tourist business, particularly in the southern regions.

Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said his ministry will recommend to the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) that additional access points between the two nations be reopened.

“To boost tourism in the Southern provinces, we want to progressively establish further checkpoints in Narathiwat, Yala, and Satun that link Malaysia.” By May 1, we anticipate all Thai-Malaysian checkpoints to reopen.

“The Tourism and Sports Ministry will collaborate with the Foreign Ministry to discuss with Malaysian authorities steps to be done at border crossings to control the spread of Covid-19,” he said according to the English site The Nation.

Songkhla’s Sadao Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) is now open to visitors entering the kingdom. On the Malaysian side, the Immigration, Customs, Quarantine, and Security point at Bukit Kayu Hitam is expected to open on April 1.

In addition, from April 1, Hat Yai Foreign Airport will be open to international visitors.

Prior to the Covid-19 outbreak, Malaysian tourists were the greatest group of visitors to the country. Thailand had over 40 million visitors in 2019, with 4.1 million Malaysians among them.

During Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s recent official visit to Thailand on February 25, the two countries agreed in principle to use the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) and Test & Go programs to achieve quarantine-free travel by air, land, and sea.

According to Ismail Sabri, various ministries and agencies would examine measures for reopening the common borders.

Malaysia will reopen its borders on April 1 as it enters the “Transition to Endemic” phase after considering many aspects, doing essential risk assessments, receiving guidance from the Ministry of Health, and scrutinizing the Quartet Ministers’ recommendations.