Hotel industry and travel news from around the Asia Pacific region: Thailand reopens international borders aiming for medical and wellness tourism, Malaysia Airlines resumes some international flights and more...
Singapore and Malaysia Agreed to Allow Cross-border Travel for some Residents and Business Travellers
In a press statement released by the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Malaysian counterpart Muhyiddin Yassin, both countries agreed to allow cross-border travel for selected people, including residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes. The two leaders agreed to establish a Reciprocal Green Lane (“RGL”) and a Periodic Commuting Arrangement (“PCA”) for different groups of travellers. The RGL will facilitate cross-border travel for essential business and official purposes. Travellers must adhere to the COVID-19 prevention and public health measures. The measures are being discussed and will have to be mutually agreed upon by both countries. On the other hand, the PCA will allow Singapore and Malaysia residents who hold long-term immigration passes for business and work purposes in the other country to periodically return to their home countries for short-term home leave. The reopening will be carried out in stages, with the groups of people divided into four categories: business professionals, Malaysians working and living in Singapore, Malaysians working in Singapore who commute from Johor on a daily basis, and Malaysian and Singapore citizens.
Several Attractions Commence Gradual Reopening in Singapore
Approximately 13 attractions in Singapore have been approved by Singapore Tourism Board (“STB”) and Ministry of Trade and Industry (“MTI”) to gradually resume operations from 1 July 2020, as the nation enters the second phase of post-Circuit Breaker lockdown. The attractions include the Singapore Zoo, Jurong Bird Park, Flower Dome at Gardens by the Bay, ArtScience Museum, Universal Studios Singapore, and the two casinos at Resorts World Sentosa and Marina Bay Sands. Other attractions and domestic tour operators may apply reopening permits with the STB if they can adhere to safe management measures for employees and customers to reduce transmission risks. Operations may only resume after approvals are granted by the MTI. As a precaution, most attractions will be restricted to no more than 25% of their operating capacity at any one time. Casino access will be limited to existing casino members and annual levy holders. Simultaneously, STB will step up its efforts to ensure that more tourism businesses, including attractions, apply for the SG Clean national certification of excellence in sanitation and hygiene.
Maldives to Reopen Borders with Minimal Restrictions from Mid-July
According to the Maldives Ministry of Tourism, the country is set to reopen its borders to travellers from 15 July 2020, after being closed since March. Hotels located on uninhabited islands and liveaboard boats will open first, followed by guesthouses and hotels on inhabited islands from 1 August, unless for transit purposes. All travellers will be given a 30-day tourist visa free of charge upon arrival with no minimum stay required. However, travellers must have a confirmed accommodation booking before arrival. All travellers must fill in a health declaration card and wear face masks on flights. Hand sanitisation centres have been set up at Velana International Airport where travellers will undergo thermal screening. While no quarantine measures are in place, some resorts may ask travellers to self-isolate when they arrive. Travellers do not need to show a negative Covid-19 test upon arriving into the Maldives. However, anyone with symptoms may be tested at the airport, at their own expense. Local health authorities may also conduct random Covid-19 tests, at no cost to travellers. The country emerged from strict lockdown measures on 15 June when locals were allowed to venture out of their homes without a permit for the first time. Schools, mosques and offices across the island will also reopen in July.
Malaysia Airlines Resumes some International Flights in July
Malaysia-based national flag carrier, Malaysia Airlines (“MAS”) will resume some of its international flights in July to facilitate essential inter-state travel. However, Malaysians are still not allowed to travel abroad, and the border remains closed. According to a press statement by MAS, the airline will adjust its network capacity from time to time to ensure passenger demands are met, prior to normalising the schedule in October for both domestic and international destinations. In June and July, MAS has scheduled once-weekly and twice-weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and several domestic destinations. There will be thrice-weekly flights between Kuala Lumpur and Penang and Kuching in June, while flights between Kuala Lumpur and Kuching will be increased to five times a week in July. From July, MAS will recommence twice-weekly services between Kuala Lumpur and Cambodia, Denpasar, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Incheon, Kathmandu, London, Melbourne, Narita, Osaka, Perth, Phuket and Sydney. However, services between Kuala Lumpur and Melbourne will be reduced to once a week from 19 to 31 July and services between Kuala Lumpur and Sydney will be reduced to once a week from 6 to 31 July. MAS will also resume flights to Singapore, Bangkok, Surabaya, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Taipei and Guangzhou, among other cities in July.
Thailand Reopens International Borders Aiming for Medical and Wellness Tourism
After recording five weeks with no community transmission of coronavirus cases, The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (“CAAT”) announced that the country will lift the ban on international flights on 1 July 2020. The announcement follows the government approving 50,000 foreigners, including business travellers and those with work permits, families or residency back into the country with a requirement of a 14-day quarantine at their own expenses. Although the general tourism is not permitted at the moment, the idea of medical and wellness tourists is in motion according to the spokesman of the Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration and Thailand’s National Tourism Agency. The country’s medical tourism industry is ranked fourth in the world in terms of value, following the US, South Korea and Turkey. The Medical and Wellness Resort of the World tourism campaign is set to emphasise on the strength of Thailand’s USD600 million medical tourism sector after the country’s success in containing the pandemic.
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