Thai and Malaysian PMs to boost border trade and tourism

A meeting slated for tomorrow between Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Songkhla province is expected to tackle initiatives aimed at enhancing Thai-Malaysian border trade and tourism.

A source revealed that the agenda includes a proposal from Thai tourism businesses to grant Tor Mor 6 immigration clearance form exemptions to Malaysian visitors at five additional immigration checkpoints in the deep south. At present, this exemption is only permitted at the Sadao checkpoint in Songkhla province.

Another proposition advocates for extended operating hours until 4am for night entertainment venues in the Thai-Malaysian border areas in Songkhla. This is believed to help invigorate the southern border economy and aligns with the changes in opening hours endorsed for other tourist spots.

The meeting between the two leaders is set to take place at a new immigration checkpoint in the Sadao district of Songkhla from 11am. This checkpoint is linked to a road that leads to Malaysia’s Bukit Kayu Hitam immigration checkpoint, located about four kilometres from the Thai-Malaysian border.

The other five border checkpoints in the far south include Padang Besar in Sadao and Prakop in Na Thawi districts (both in Songkhla), Satun in Satun province, Yala in Yala province and Narathiwat in Narathiwat province, according to Charun Kaeo-wachisap, president of Phatthalung’s tourism business association, reported Bangkok Post.

Charun pointed out that the recent six-month trial of eliminating the need to complete the Tor Mor 6 form at the Sadao checkpoint has resulted in a doubled visitor count. However, this is also causing traffic congestion, which could potentially be alleviated by implementing the same rule at other checkpoints.

He also requested PM Srettha to consider authorising coaches transporting tourists from Malaysia to enter and remain in Songkhla for the convenience of tourists and operators.

Atthaphon Phrommun, mayor of the Padang Besar municipality in Sadao district, also proposed a discussion with both leaders to designate an area, approximately three to five kilometres from the border, as a special economic zone for border trade.

Other topics on the discussion table include the potential revival of a previously abandoned project to construct a new Thai-Malaysian friendship bridge in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district. Additionally, both parties are set to address the southern unrest, with a keen interest in developing measures to prevent insurgents from shuttling between southern Thailand and northern Malaysia, thereby eliminating both countries as their criminal base.