Tourists from Malaysia will be able to enter Thailand under the “Test and Go” scheme with no quarantine upon arrival.

The Thai government has announced plans to reopen the Thai-Malaysian border in March as part of the country’s plan to stimulate the economy and tourism industry in the southern provinces.

Reported by the Bangkok Post, deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek said that Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had ordered the country’s Covid-19 management authorities, as well as the tourism and sports emergency operations centre, to outline pandemic mitigation measures for the reopening of border checkpoints in Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat, and Satun.

This is part of Thailand’s policy to finally have a direct travel bubble with Malaysia, allowing tourists from here to enter the country under the “Test and Go” scheme with no quarantine upon arrival. Undoubtedly, visitors will still be required to pass two RT-PCR Covid-19 tests upon arrival into Thailand.

“The prime minister is confident Thailand will remain one of the world’s top tourist destinations despite the pandemic,” said Rachada.

“The government will support efforts to revitalise tourism, with an emphasis on public health and safety,” she added.

Dr Suthep Phetmak, a regional public health inspector-general, said the Covid-19 situation in both countries was similar. According to him, even though there were about 20,000 new cases reported as of February 12, public health authorities expected the added risk of the border reopening to be low.

Suthep said government agencies would prepare immigration processes, testing, hotels, and businesses in a Covid-free setting, including public transport, tourism sites, restaurants, and departmental stores, before the reopening.