THE Southeast Asia sub-region is preparing to open doors for tourists. As tourism is responsible for more than 10 per cent of GDP in countries like Thailand and Cambodia, its revitalisation is essential to the region’s post-pandemic economic recovery. After two years of lockdown and multiple COVID-19 variants, the region is pushing ahead with plans to quarantine-free travel policy for international travel after the COVID-19 epidemic ruined the region’s major tourist industry.
In Viet Nam, all foreign passengers will be able to enter the country, no quarantine required, starting from 15 March 2022. Malaysia has mentioned that from 1 April, fully vaccinated tourists would be able to enter the country, with no quarantine required. Also, Thailand has declared that passengers would no longer need to carry a COVID-free passport. Indonesia is also considering extending quarantine-free travel across the country, which is currently exclusive to the resort island of Bali. As a post-pandemic pilot province, Bali has had a Visa on Arrival scheme for Australians and travellers from 22 other countries since early March. If this scheme works (no spike in the number of cases), cities in Indonesia are expected to open doors for international arrivals in April, according to local media in the country.
Below is the complete travel restriction of countries in this sub-region. Tabel 1. The complete list of Southeast Asia Travel Restriction (updated: 13 March 2022)
| Country | Travel Restriction |
| Brunei Darussalam | Travellers who have completed their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccination will only be required to have 1-7 days of quarantine, depending on the country they departed from. |
| Cambodia | Open to fully vaccinated tourists, quarantine-free.
|
| Indonesia | Partially open to tourists with mandatory quarantine in place. |
| Laos | Partially reopened to international tourists from selected countries. |
| Malaysia | Currently, open via the Langkawi travel bubble scheme. Reopens to fully vaccinated tourists without quarantine on 1 April 2022. |
| Myanmar | Closed to tourists. |
| Philippines | Open to fully vaccinated international tourists.
|
| Singapore | Open to tourists from selected countries via vaccinated travel lanes or hotel quarantine schemes.
|
| Thailand | Open to international travellers. Fully vaccinated tourists can travel via the Phuket Sandbox, Samui Plus Program and other sandbox schemes |
| Viet Nam | Earmarked to fully reopen to international tourists on 15 March 2022.
|
Loosening border restrictions in Southeast Asia has opened the way for stronger bilateral and multilateral collaboration on post-pandemic recovery for all parties concerned. However, to succeed, cities must be ready for this.
If you look forward to more opportunities to collaborate and recover the industries, we invite you to join the network! UCLG ASPAC promotes Culture and Tourism through its Committees that involve cities and local governments, encourage networking, and facilitate city-to-city cooperation. Other than that, there are also Standing Committee of Women in Local Governments, Belt and Road Local Cooperation, the 21st Century Maritime Cooperation Committee, Humanitarian Development Peace (HDP) Nexus Committee, Circular Economy Committee, Culture and Tourism Committees, as well as the sub-region based South-Southwest Committee. Specifically for the Southeast Asia sub-region, UCLG ASPAC looks forward to your active participation in the upcoming ASEAN Mayors Forum to be held from 5-7 October 2022!
Bibliography
- https://fortune.com/2022/03/18/southeast-asia-thailand-Viet Nam-indonesia-bali-tourism-covid-recovery-china-ukraine/
- https://www.euronews.com/travel/2022/03/18/is-south-east-asia-open-to-tourists-a-complete-list-of-2022-travel-restrictions-for-every-
- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-19/bali-open-for-tourists-without-quarantine/100914088
- https://southeastasiabackpacker.com/corona-virus-southeast-asia/
- https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/brunei/entry-requirements
