The Tourism Authorities of Thailand and Malaysia officially inaugurated the cross-border self-drive tourism caravan on Saturday at The Zon Duty-Free Complex. The kick-off is located between the Sadao Checkpoint, in Thailand’s Songkhla Province, and the Bukitkayu Hitam Checkpoint, in Malaysia’s Kedah State.
The event venue was lined up with 60 cars and motorcycles, including more than 100 drivers, motorcyclists and riders, for the official flag off ceremony before they began their Malaysia-Thailand route.
The flag-off was officially officiated by TAT’s deputy governor of international marketing for Asia and South Pacific, Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai, and Yasmeen Yasim, the deputy secretary-general of Tourism for Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Pattaraanong stated at the launch that the Royal Thai Government, via TAT and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports always looks for opportunities to drive an international policy by enhancing Thailand’s status as a global destination and encouraging cross border tourism with neighbouring ASEAN nations, especially Malaysia.
Yasim continued:
“Malaysia, in collaboration with Thailand, is excited to promote cross-border tourism.”
“We hope to enhance the experience of tourism and foster greater cultural interchange between our two nations. This initiative, designed to reach a target of 7 million cross border tourist exchanges between Thailand and Malaysia by the year 2024, reflects the mutual commitment of both countries to strengthen regional ties via tourism. Reflects our shared commitment to strengthening regional ties via tourism.”
Teaming up a major market source
Malaysia is Thailand’s biggest source market. From 1 January until 23 October 2024 Thailand recorded more than four million Malaysian tourists. Of these, 49 percent entered through the Sadao Checkpoint.
By 2024 the number Malaysians visiting Thailand is expected at 5 million, and the number Thais visiting Malaysia is expected at 2 million. This is approximately 7 million people in total.
This cross-border tourism initiative, in conjunction with the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026, which aims at attracting 35.6 million tourists, will play a key role in increasing the flow from Thailand to Malaysia. Through such collaborative efforts
Malaysia reaffirms that it is committed to promoting seamless travel between borders, improving regional tourism cooperation in ASEAN and IMTGT, and ensuring a sustainable growth of the tourism sectors of both countries.
