Neighboring Singapore and Malaysia will reopen their borders to one another from 29 November for the first time in more than 20 months.
According to a joint statement issued by the Prime Ministers of each country on Monday, the decision to reopen was made due to “the significant progress that both countries have made in vaccinating their respective populations and managing the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As such, “the Prime Ministers agreed that it is timely to progressively resume cross-border travel between both countries, in a safe manner. Malaysia and Singapore will launch a VTL (Vaccinated Travel Lane) between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International Airport from November 29.”
Under the plan, fully-vaccinated travellers will be able to travel between the two countries by plane without having to quarantine, albeit subject to submitting a negative test result prior to departure and again upon arrival.
Land borders remain closed for now, however the Prime Ministers added they “look forward to restoring travel across the land links between both countries in the near future.”
The reopening of borders also comes as a boost to Singapore’s integrated resorts, Marina Bay Sands and Resorts World Sentosa, with Malaysia representing one of their key markets – particularly in the mass market segment.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the establishment of a VTL between the two countries would help “revive our economies, restore our people-to-people ties and strengthen our bilateral relationship.”
The scheme will initially resume with six daily flights between the two countries.
