COVID-19 virus has deprived us of travelling ever since 2020. This worldwide pandemic had caused many people to cancel their vacations as many countries closed their borders to prevent the further spread of the virus, including Malaysia.
Although some people still travelled throughout the pandemic, they had to endure long quarantine periods, and as we all know it, travel restrictions became a lot stricter during that time. Some of us even had trouble travelling within the states!
But lucky for us holidaymakers, Malaysia entered into the Endemic phase on 1 April 2022, making the procedure for people to go in and out of Malaysia a lot easier. Hand-in-hand, some countries have allowed Malaysians to enter with more relaxation as well. Isn’t that exciting? We can finally start our overseas travel!
So, without further ado, let’s talk about a few countries that Malaysians can visit without having to quarantine!
Singapore
Malaysians can finally enter Singapore without needing to quarantine. All we need to do is to take a PCR/ART test two days before their trip, and we’ll be able to enter the country! The same procedure applies when we return to Malaysia. However, do take note that this S.O.P. only applies to those fully vaccinated individuals.
If you’re a theme park junkie, you can finally have some adrenaline pumping through your veins in Universal Studio Singapore! Gardens by the Bay is also a must-visit for Malaysians travelling over to Singapore as it is a huge, colourful and futuristic park filled with nature. If you plan to go there and enjoy the light and music show, head over there in the evening to watch it, and you will feel like you are in a fairy tale.
Australia
Australia has also reopened its international borders in late February 2022. And according to their travel requirements, those who’re fully vaccinated are allowed to enter, but quarantine may be required depending on the states and territories you are planning to visit.
Those who want to visit Australia are required to apply for a visa when travelling and electronic travel authorisation. A mandatory travel declaration form is also required, in which you’ll provide details about your trip, personal information, vaccination status, and your COVID-19 test results.
Australia is quite large, containing many travel destinations and many states and territories that’ll be perfect for a chill vacation, such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Queensland. Australia is also known for wildlife like kangaroos, koalas and quokkas, their white sandy beaches, as well as their city life.
Suppose you’re planning to go to Western Australia. In that case, you can visit one of their local wineries, the wildlife parks where kangaroos are allowed to roam freely, and definitely visit the beaches. One popular must-visit destination is Rottnest Island, whereby you can see quokkas and enjoy the beach!
Another iconic place to visit is the Sydney Opera House, a performing arts centre. It is a great architectural building with an amazing location at the Sydney harbour.
Thailand
Fully vaccinated Malaysians can now travel and stay in Thailand. However, they would still need to quarantine and undergo an RT-PCR test. Unvaccinated Malaysians are also allowed to travel to Thailand. Still, they have to undergo Alternate Quarantine, which requires them to spend five days of mandatory quarantine in an S.H.A. Extra+ or A.Q. hotel and would need to undergo the RT-PCR test on the first day and the last day.
There are many things that Malaysians can do in Thailand, such as visiting their islands and beaches, enjoying their local cultures such as getting a ride on their “tuk-tuk”, eating insect delicacies and to their night markets.
Thailand is also known for its floating markets that have a wide variety of local food to try, especially in Bangkok or Hatyai. What is interesting besides the food is to observe and experience the way the locals interact around you.
Malaysians should also pay a visit to Sukhothai, a Unesco World Heritage Site, to see the resorted temples and monuments.
Lee Jasen is a content writer under Headliner by Newswav, a programme where content creators get to tell their unique stories through articles and at the same time monetize their content within the Newswav app.
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