Thailand and Malaysia launch cross-border self-drive tourism caravan

The tourism authorities of Thailand and Malaysia officially launched the cross-border, self-drive tourism caravan at The Zon Duty-Free Complex on Saturday, 26th October.

The kick-off point is located between the Sadao Checkpoint in Thailand’s Songkhla Province and the Bukit Kayu Hitam Checkpoint in Malaysia’s Kedah State.

A caravan of 60 cars and motorcycles from Malaysia and Thailand, with more than 100 drivers and motorcyclists, lined up at the event’s venue for the official flag-off ceremony before commencing their Malaysia-Thailand overland route.

The flag-off was officiated by TAT deputy governor for international marketing for Asia and the South Pacific Pattaraanong Na Chiangmai and deputy secretary-general for tourism Yasmeen Yasim of Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.

Pattaraanong said at the launch: “The Royal Thai Government, through TAT and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, always looks for an opportunity to drive an international relations policy by enhancing Thailand as a global tourism destination and encouraging cross-border tourism with neighbouring ASEAN countries, especially Malaysia.”

Yasim added: “Malaysia is delighted to collaborate with Thailand in promoting cross-border tourism, aiming to enhance the tourism experience and foster greater cultural exchange between our two nations. This initiative, which seeks to achieve a target of at least 7 million cross-border tourist exchanges between the two countries by the end of 2024, reflects our mutual commitment to strengthening regional ties through tourism. Reflects our mutual commitment to strengthening regional ties through tourism.”

Teaming up with a major source market

Malaysia is one of Thailand’s most significant source markets. From 1 January to 23 October 2024, Thailand recorded more than 4 million Malaysian tourists, with 49 percent entering through the Sadao Checkpoint.

By the end of 2024, the number of Malaysian visitors to Thailand is expected to reach 5 million, while the number of Thai tourists to Malaysia is anticipated at no less than 2 million. This represents about 7 million in total.

In conjunction with the upcoming Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign, which aims to attract 35.6 million tourist arrivals, this cross-border tourism initiative will play an important role in increasing the flow of visitors from Thailand to Malaysia. Through such collaborative efforts, 

Malaysia reaffirms its commitment to promoting seamless travel across borders, enhancing regional tourism cooperation within ASEAN and IMT-GT, and ensuring the sustainable growth of both countries’ tourism sectors.