Malaysia to launch Vaccinated Travel Lanes with Thailand, Cambodia
New air Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) involving Malaysia, Thailand and Cambodia will begin on March 15, 2022 as part of joint efforts to reopen international borders.
Kuala Lumpur (VNA) - New air Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) involving Malaysia,Thailand and Cambodia will begin on March 15, 2022 as part of joint efforts toreopen international borders.
Malaysian TransportMinister Wee Ka Siong said fully vaccinated travellers will be allowed totravel the designated routes without being required to quarantine upon arrival.
These routesare expected to aid Malaysia’s economic recovery from the impact of the COVID-19pandemic, particularly in reviving the ailing tourism industry, Wee said in astatement on March 5.
Wee said forThailand, designated airlines from both countries will be allowed to mount upto six flights daily for the Kuala Lumpur-Bangkok route and up to four flightsdaily for the Kuala Lumpur-Phuket route while additional routes may be addedsubject to mutual agreement by both countries.
For Cambodia, he said designated airlines from both countrieswill be allowed to operate up to two flights daily on the Kuala Lumpur-PhnomPenh route while additional routes may be added subject to market demand.
Wee said these VTL routes will be served by all the threecountries' designated carriers under the VTL initiative.
Wee said the government will continue discussions with ASEAN countries on the safe reopening of additional routes in thefuture according to prevailing situations.
Malaysia currently has an air and land VTL arrangement withSingapore while Malaysia and Brunei have agreed in principle to implement thesame soon.
Malaysia reported on March 6 that the country logged 33,406 newCOVID-19 cases, the highest daily rise since the pandemic broke out in thecountry in 2020, and 67 deaths.
The country’s total caseload has to date reached 3,595,172, whilethe death toll amounted to 33,173./.
The Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF) Research has foreseen the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to grow 6 percent in 2022 from 3.1 percent in 2021, mainly driven by the economy’s further reopening, including a lift of ban on international travels.
From March 3, travellers arriving in Malaysia from abroad through certain programmes will not be required to undergo COVID-19 test within one week following their arrival.
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Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
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Illustrative image (Photo: Xinhua/VNA) 
