by AZREEN HANI & FAYYADH JAFFAR / Pic by BERNAMA

NEXT week, Malaysia will have additional vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs) as part of the country’s move to reopen international borders gradually. 

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (picture) announced on Saturday that the VTL between Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia will begin on March 15. 

He said the decision was made following fruitful discussions with Thailand and Cambodia, as part of joint efforts to reopen international borders. 

Fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed to travel the routes noted below without being required to quarantine upon arrival. 

“These routes are expected to aid our mutual economic recovery from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in reviving the ailing tourism industry,” he said in a statement. 

For Thailand, designated airlines from both countries will be allowed to mount up to six flights daily on the Kuala Lumpur (KL)-Bangkok route and up to four flights daily for the KL-Phuket route. 

Additional routes may be added, subject to mutual agreement by both countries. 

For Cambodia, designated airlines from both countries will be allowed to operate up to two flights daily on the KL-Phnom Penh route. Additional routes may be added, subject to market demand. 

“These VTL routes will be served by all countries’ designated carriers under the VTL initiative. Related standard operating procedures and health protocols will be released by the respective agencies soon,” Wee added. 

The government will continue discussions with neighbouring Asean countries on the safe reopening of additional routes in the future, according to prevailing situations. 

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has confirmed that the country’s borders will be reopened soon. 

Bernama reported to enable travel to and from Malaysia with Brunei and Thailand, the government is in the process of implementing the land-VTL with these two countries. 

He said this would add to the existing VTL facility with Singapore and the one still under planning with Indonesia. 

“To rejuvenate economic activities and tourism, especially in Johor, the federal government implemented the air and land VTLs with Singapore on Jan 21 this year to facilitate the reunion of families separated by the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

Last Friday, Wee also announced that Singapore-Penang VTL will begin operating on March 16. 

He said the governments of both countries agreed to expand the VTL initiative to include the Penang-Singapore route, which will allow fully vaccinated travellers from Penang and Singapore to pass through immigration without having to be quarantined upon arrival. 

Citing the economic benefits brought about by the VTL, Wee said that it has contributed significantly to the recovery of the tourism industry between Malaysia and Singapore, especially in the tourism sector. 

“The VTL initiative has played an important role in strengthening flight connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore while contributing to economic and commercial recovery between the two neighbours, particularly in the tourism sector, which has been heavily impacted by the pandemic. 

“The VTL, which was first initiated between the Changi Airport and KL International Airport (KLIA) route on Nov 29, 2021, has served 82,906 arriving passengers from Singapore as of Feb 28, 2022,” he added. 

Travellers can access more information on pre-departure and entry conditions to Malaysia at www.imi.gov.my. Details on the requirements for VTL to Singapore can be found at https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg.