INFO SEMASA | BANGKOK – Kerajaan Thailand mengumumkan bakal membuka pintu sempadan dengan Malaysia bermula bulan Mac 2022, lapor akhbar Bangkok Post pada 15 Februari 2022/Selasa.
Keputusan itu diambil bagi merangsang semula sektor ekonomi dan pelancongan terutama bagi wilayah-wilayah yang terletak di selatan Thailand.
Jurucakap kerajaan, Rachada Dhnadirek berkata, Perdana Menteri, Prayut Chan-o-cha mengarahkan Persatuan Perkhidmatan Pensterilan Thailand (CSSA) untuk bekerjasama dengan pusat operasi pelancongan dan sukan untuk membincangkan isu mitigasi.
Menurut laporan itu, kerajaan merancang untuk membuka semula pusat pemeriksaan sempadan di wilayah Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat dan Satun.
Thailand merancang untuk melaksanakan pengaturan gelembung perjalanan dengan Malaysia, di mana pelancong yang sudah mendapat vaksinasi boleh tiba di bawah skim kemasukan Test & Go tanpa perlu menjalani kuarantin wajib.
Bagaimanapun, Rachada berkata, mereka masih perlu mengambil dua ujian tindak balas berantai polimerase (PCR) Covid-19 sebaik tiba di Thailand.
Beliau berkata, kerajaan yakin Thailand tetap menjadi destinasi percutian pilihan walaupun dalam situasi pandemik berterusan.
“Perdana Menteri yakin Thailand kekal sebagai salah satu destinasi pelancongan utama dunia meskipun dalam suasana pandemik seperti sekarang.
“Kerajaan akan menyokong usaha untuk menggiatkan semula pelancongan dengan penekanan kepada kesihatan dan keselamatan awam,” jelas Rachada.
Menurut Dr. Suthep Phetmak dari Kementerian Kesihatan Awam pula, situasi Covid-19 di Thailand dan Malaysia berada pada tahap sama.
Memandangkan persamaan dalam bilangan, pegawai-pegawai kesihatan tidak menganggap pembukaan semula sempadan menimbulkan risiko yang ketara, lapor Agensi.
Southern border to reopen next month
By Bangkok Post
The government is planning to reopen the Thai-Malaysia border next month to stimulate tourism and the economy in the deep southern provinces.
Deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek says Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) and the tourism and sports emergency operation centre to outline pandemic mitigation measures for the reopening of border checkpoints in Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun.
Following the government's policy to open a travel bubble with Malaysia, tourists from the neighbouring country will be allowed to enter under the Test and Go scheme with no quarantine upon arrival.
However, visitors will still need to pass two RT-PCR tests after arriving in Thailand.
"The prime minister is confident Thailand will remain one of the world's top tourist destinations despite the pandemic.
"The government will support efforts to revitalise tourism, with an emphasis on public health and safety," Ms Rachada said.
Dr Suthep Phetmak, inspector-general attached to public health zone 12, said the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia and Thailand are similar.
On Feb 12, there were about 20,000 new cases, he said, so the public health agency expects the risk of the border reopening will be low.
Before the reopening, government agencies will prepare immigration processes, testing, hotels with the SHA+ standard and businesses with a Covid Free Setting, including public transport, tourism sites, restaurants and department stores, he said.
NEWS LINK > https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/2263579/southern-border-to-reopen-next-month
