Issue #63 - A Curious Week of Travel Reopening Messages in Malaysia
Will it be vaccinated travel lanes and air corridors, or a more expansive reopening?
Hello. Welcome to issue 63 of Asia Travel Re:Set…
Bringing it home, today’s issue assesses the developing travel landscape in Malaysia - one of the region’s most impressive ‘COVID-comeback’ stories.
The vaccination rate is strong, and government intent exists to reopen. But the media messaging leaves many unanswered questions - and underscores the messy outlook across much of South East Asia.
A quick shout out to a good friend of The South East Asia Travel Show, Bangkok-based Vincent Vichit-Vadakan, who guested on Friday’ show. He’ll host an intriguing South East Asia travel reopening webinar for the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand on Tuesday (16th) evening - with some big-hitter guests. More details here.
Thanks for being on board,
Gary
The Sunday Itinerary
- This Week’s Top 5
Updates from China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand
- A Curious Week of Travel Reopening Messages in Malaysia
Will it be vaccinated travel lanes and air corridors, or a more expansive reopening?
This Week’s Top 5
Updates from China, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand
Beijing tightens travel restrictions. All travellers to the Chinese capital must present a negative nucleic acid test and a green health code from 17 November.
Low target in Indonesia. Tourism & Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno set a 2022 visitor arrivals target of 2 million, down from 16.1 million in 2019.
A sign of things to come from Hong Kong? All air crew will be required to take a booster vaccine shot “as soon as possible,” reports the SCMP.
Inching forward in Singapore. 3 new Vaccinated Travel Lanes were added this week, Malaysia, Finland and Sweden, bringing the total to 16. The daily passenger arrivals cap was upped to 6,000, or around 8% of pre-pandemic traffic.
Tough economic times in Thailand. Sluggish tourism demand will weigh down the nation’s recovery, says a Nomura report. It forecasts 0.6% GDP growth for Thailand in 2021, compared to 7.1% in Singapore and 4.4% in Malaysia.
“IN THE NEWS”
The rebuilding of the Maldives’ tourism industry over the past year is overshadowed by a much greater existential threat: the climate crisis. My article, Maldives confronts a crisis bigger than Covid-19, was published this week by the Asia Media Centre.
Myself and Hannah Pearson, my podcast partner in crime, were guests on a South East Asia edition of the monthly OAG aviation and travel webinar. Along with regular presenters Becca Rowland & John Grant - and aided by some eye-catching data sets - we attempted to plot a pathway for ASEAN and Asia Pacific markets.
Click HERE to watch South East Asia - Rebuilding International Growth
A Curious Week of Travel Reopening Messages in Malaysia
Will it be vaccinated travel lanes and air corridors, or a more expansive reopening?
Photo (Penang): Gary Bowerman
Having achieved a 95% fully vaccinated rate for its adult population, and 76% of the total population, Malaysia is eager to restart inbound travel.
It is one of South East Asia’s most compelling ‘COVID-comeback’ stories, but what happens next is uncertain.
Malaysian borders were closed in March 2020. Domestic travel was banned for an extensive period from mid-January to mid-October 2021.
Despite having ASEAN’s 6th-largest population (32.8 million), Malaysia counts its third-largest COVID-19 cases (2.54 million), and third-highest death toll (29,576).
As daily cases topped 20,000 in August, the chaotic handling of the crisis resulted in the downfall of Muhyiddin Yassin’s government. The economy was partially closed and in free-fall, and national sentiment was frustrated and pessimistic.
Three months later, a well-managed vaccine rollout has sparked life back into the nation. Scepticism remains, however, about the durability of recovery.
“It is a commendable turnaround from the dark days of July and August, when the nation’s healthcare system was under immense pressure.”
Although strict standard operating protocols (SOPs) remain in place nationwide, requiring residents to mask-up and show their vaccine app to travel, dine-in and work, the country is on the cusp of reopening its borders.
It is a commendable turnaround from the dark days of July and August, when the nation’s healthcare system was under immense pressure.
Malaysia’s new government has been dropping hints about reopening via the media for a while. This week, 3 separate announcements appeared to pave the way.
BUT, as we are seeing throughout South East Asia, questions remain unanswered.
Monday 8 November
Things kicked off on Monday, when Singapore added Malaysia to its roster of (now) 16 Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) countries. Finland and Sweden were also added.
Some 6 VTL flights per day will be scheduled between Singapore Changi and Kuala Lumpur International Airports from 29 November. This is pretty low-level capacity for one of the world’s busiest (pre-pandemic) city pairs.
Discussions are ongoing regarding a similar cross-border land agreement that would facilitate 2-way travel across the causeway separating the two countries.
So that was Monday.
Wednesday 10 November
On Wednesday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo welcomed Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob at the presidential palace in the Indonesian city of Bogor.
Among several trade announcements was a vaccinated air travel corridor between the two neighbouring nations.
The vaccinated corridor(s) will likely commence in stages from early 2022 between Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur and Bali.
No specific details were fleshed out, however.
Thursday 11 November
Somewhat out of the blue, former Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin - who is the president of the nation's National Recovery Council - announced that Malaysia intends to reopen its borders no later than 1 January 2022.
Again, definitive details are yet to be published.
Currently, vaccinated Malaysian residents are permitted to travel outbound but must undertake a 7-day home quarantine on return.
Inbound travellers must undertake a 7-day hard quarantine.
A quarantine-free pilot travel bubble for vaccinated inbound visitors on the island of Langkawi will begin on Monday, 15 November.
So, What Happens Next?
Firstly, what does “reopen borders” actually mean in the current regional context?
Scaleable quarantine-free travel agreements with Singapore and Indonesia - both of which share very strong trade, travel and VFR ties with Malaysia - would make sense if a phased reopening strategy is to be followed.
If.
Thursday revealed that Malaysia might want to reopen more expansively.
So, will it publish a list of ‘eligible’ countries from which vaccinated visitors are permitted to enter as Thailand has done, and Indonesia has issued for Bali?
“This is a befuddling reopening tactic that we’re becoming accustomed to across South East Asia.”
It’s worth noting that the Muhyiddin announcement was a ‘recommendation’ to the government. It has yet to be ratified - and the precise terms will be negotiated.
So, essentially, it was an announcement before an announcement.
This is a befuddling reopening tactic that we’re becoming accustomed to across South East Asia.
PLUS, Malaysia still has a troublesome 7-day quarantine in place - albeit not for visitors to Langkawi from tomorrow. Will it reduce, or remove that entirely?
If so, what was the purpose of the quarantine-free Singapore and Indonesia ‘air corridor’ announcements?
Timed for Impact?
The timing of Thursday’s wheel-spin may be telling. Malaysia is preparing for state elections in Melaka and Sarawak, which both attract big volumes of inbound visitors.
While this may influence the messaging, it is unlikely to drive the overall policy.
Meanwhile, Malaysian tourism officials have voiced concerns that regional neighbours (read: Thailand) could steal a competitive march during the upcoming December-February season.
Although long-haul travel demand remains uncertain, Thailand is targeting visitors from Europe and the US. Plus, Russia, India, the Middle East, Japan and South Korea. Australia, too.
Bali and Vietnam will endeavour to do likewise. Cambodia too. Maybe the Philippines.
These primary source markets will - in the continued absence of Chinese tourists - be vital for Malaysia to target as it attempts to rebuild a shattered travel economy.
As Uzaidi Udanis, President of the Malaysian Tourism Council, said this week the European and US markets are priorities during the northern hemisphere winter. Restoring travel from across ASEAN and the Middle East is also high agenda.
He noted, though, that while the reopening proposals are welcome, Malaysia must invest heavily and plan assiduously its tourism promotions for the new era, adding:
“This industry is very competitive, and we need to see how we want to market our country to international tourists. Otherwise, we will be left behind by other countries.”
Watch this space!
Travel film content is changing as the pandemic redefines the meaning of tourism. This week, I chat with award-winning filmmaker Kamila Delart who wants travellers to slow down and experience destinations with all their senses. Based on Malaysia’s Langkawi island, Kamila works with tourism boards and travel brands across South East Asia, and produces stunning slow nature and cultural heritage films.
Listen here:
🎧 Website
🎧 Spotify
🎧 Apple
Or wherever you grab your pods!
And, that’s a wrap for Issue 63.
Until next Sunday, find me on Twitter, LinkedIn, the Asia Travel Re:Set website and, por supuesto, The South East Asia Travel Show.
Have a great week,
Gary