AFTER months of relentless lobbying, industry players seems to have their wishes granted with the Government consenting to fully re-open the Malaysian borders on April 1 with the country transiting into the COVID-19 endemic phase.
This latest development means that international travellers entering Malaysia would only need to have valid travel documents to enter and exit the country while Malaysians can travel freely to other countries with similar open borders, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) described re-opening of borders starting April 1 as a crucial step for the tourism industry.
“With a firm date, the industry can now begin its marketing and promotions activities and recalling tourism workers in stages back to work. The multiplier effect of tourist spending will invariably boost local economies and many sub sectors of the tourism industry,” commented its president Datuk Tan Kok Liang.
“The closure of international border for the leisure and business segment has hit the whole industry hard over the last 24 months. The Langkawi travel bubble and VTL arrangements, although well-meaning, has helped little to support the industry as a whole.”
International border closures and restrictions have resulted in Malaysia losing about RM90 bil in tourism receipts in 2020 with the figure surging in 2021 to RM165 bil.
The opening of borders is consistent with practices in many countries with Australia and Singapore having followed suit lately.
Under its “Test and Go” programme, Thailand has allowed tourists to travel all over Thailand after they received a negative test result on their first COVID-19 test without quarantine.
The Philippines suspended its colour-coded country classification programme in favour of opening it to vaccinated travellers who test negative via a PCR test with no quarantine.
Denmark, the UK, Sweden, Dubai, Arab Saudi and major cities across America have gone a step further and removed all forms of COVID-19 restriction.
While yesterday’s announcement brings relief for the tourism industry, MATTA said it awaits timely updated SOPs that is consistent with global practices to make post-pandemic travel experience “less stressful”.
“Meanwhile the Government should beef-up its healthcare facilities to cater for foreign tourists,” added Tan.
Given the low number of cases under the Category 3, 4 and 5 due to high vaccination rate which include the on-going booster dose and children’s vaccination programme, the nation is well protected to move safely into the endemic stage, according to Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers’ (FMM) president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai.
“Based on the FMM-MIER (Malaysian Institute of Economic Research) Business Conditions Survey 2H 2022, respondents indicated that heading into 2022, growing external demand is expected to improve manufacturing sector’s recovery considerably,” he pointed out.
“This exit strategy to move Malaysia into the endemic phase comes at the opportune time to further bolster businesses and the economy.”
As such move will facilitate human capital movement for work and trade, FMM said it will have a positive impact on the recovery of industries as well as help address unemployment caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Allowing international border crossing for fully vaccinated persons will not only help reinvigorate tourism activities but will equally further stimulate manufacturing sector activities,” opined Soh.
“As part of their business revival, many companies are now seeking new business opportunities, diversification of business and products, and exploring new markets.
“The re-opening of the international borders will allow their personnel to travel overseas to meet buyers and promote their products as well as enable their business partners/customers, vendors and technical experts to be physically present here to seal the negotiations as well as to commission projects.” – March 9, 2022
