The Tourism Authorities of Thailand, Malaysia and The Zon Duty-Free Complex officially inaugurated Saturday the cross-border tourism caravan. The kick-off is situated between the Sadao Checkpoint (in Thailand’s Songkhla Province) and the Bukitkayu hitam Checkpoint (in Malaysia’s Kedah State).
The event venue was lined with 60 cars and motorbikes, including over 100 drivers, motorcycle riders and riders, before the official flag-off ceremony. The flag-off was officiated officially by TAT’s vice governor of international marketing for Asia and South Pacific, Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, and Yasmeen Yasim, Malaysia’s deputy secretary-general of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Pattaraanong said at the launch that, through TAT and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, the Royal Thai Government always looks for ways to advance an international policy, by enhancing Thailand’s status as a destination of choice and encouraging cross-border tourism with ASEAN nations in general, and Malaysia in particular.
Ясим продолжил:
“Malaysia in collaboration Thailand is excited to promote trans-border tourism.”
“We hope that we can enhance the experience of travel and encourage greater cultural exchanges between our two nations. This initiative, which aims to achieve a target of 7,000,000 cross-border tourist exchanges between Thailand & Malaysia by 2024, reflects both countries’ commitment to strengthening regional ties through tourism. Reflects our shared commitment towards strengthening regional ties through tourism.”
Teaming up with major market sources
Malaysia is Thailand’s largest source market. Thailand received more than 4 million Malaysian tourists between 1 January and 23 October 2024. 49 percent of these tourists entered via the Sadao Checkpoint.
By 2024, it is expected that 5 million Malaysians will visit Thailand and 2 million Thais will visit Malaysia. This is about 7 million people.
This cross-border initiative, along with the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2020, which aims to attract 35.6 million tourists will play a major role in increasing the flow of tourists from Thailand to Malaysia. Through such collaborative initiatives
Malaysia affirms its commitment to promoting seamless travel across borders, improving regional cooperation in ASEAN, IMTGT and ensuring sustainable growth of tourism sectors in both countries.
