S’pore & Thailand Also Discussing Green Lane Arrangements As Thailand Looks to Reopen Borders

By
Shawn Ambrose
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Back when the circuit breaker ended and the second circuit breaker a.k.a  Phase 1 began, people hoped for one simple thing: to meet their friends.

Reader: And to dine in at eateries. 

Yes, dining in too-

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Reader: And for bubble tea shops to resume operations.

Yes, I forgot-

Reader: And for cinemas to reope-

OK fine, so there were many things.

But now, after infections have dwindled and the situation seems to be improving, residents want only one thing: travel.

Soon, you might be able to head to Thailand to get that bowl of green curry you’ve been craving for the last 8 months.

Well, kind of.

S’pore & Thailand Also Discussing Green Lane Arrangements As Thailand Looks to Reopen Borders

Singapore and Thailand have agreed to accelerate discussions to institute a reciprocal green lane arrangement, said Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) on Wednesday (26 Aug).

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This arrangement would allow travel for essential business and official purposes between the two countries.

Unfortunately, going to the beach and eating Pad Thai does not come under these categories.

Image: Tenor

And just like the green lane arrangements that Singapore has with other countries, travellers will have to follow safety measures such as taking Covid-19 tests and submitting their itineraries.

Good Bilateral Relations

The decision was made in a discussion during the Singapore-Thailand Political Consultations on Wednesday, which was co-chaired by the foreign ministries of the two nations.

In it, the two countries also expressed appreciation for the mutual assistance and support provided during the Covid-19 pandemic.

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MFA said both countries shared timely information and experiences on combating Covid-19, and mutually contributed medical supplies, equipment, and Covid-19 diagnostic test kits.

Thailand Reportedly Looking to Allow Tourists In From October

Earlier, it was reported that Thailand is looking to allow travellers into the country from October, due to the slump in tourism.

According to the Tourism Council of Thailand, the tourist industry constitutes 20% of  Thailand’s GDP. That’s not a small portion.

Moreover, some 7.7 million Thais work in tourist and its related industries.

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So, the massive drop in tourism has had a major impact on the country and its residents, to say the least.

And now that their infections are going down, the authorities are considering opening their borders, albeit cautiously.

Image: Worldometers

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said: “The virus won’t go away soon and we have to think about the economy. But we can’t just reopen the borders. We have to be careful…Thailand has a limited budget so we have to make sure we can control the disease well.”

Travellers from countries with limited infections might have to wear wristbands equipped with a GPS tracking system—a little like those issued to people who are on SHNs in Singapore after they’ve arrived from other countries.

Tourists travelling to Thailand would also likely need to undergo a 14-day quarantine in a hotel, so you’ll still have to hold off on your plans for a short Bangkok trip for now.

Singapore Considering More Green Lane Arrangements 

According to The Straits Times, Singapore is also considering reciprocal green lane arrangements with other countries in the region, such as Indonesia and Japan.

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As you know, Singapore has already established a green lane arrangement with countries such as Malaysia and China.

They’re also allowing tourists from New Zealand and Brunei, who only need to take a Covid-19 test instead of undergoing a two-week quarantine now.

Singaporeans, however, are still advised to defer all travel abroad.

Image: Tenor

But the fact that countries, including Singapore, are opening their borders at all is certainly a good sign.

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Shawn Ambrose
Email: [email protected]