Quoting deputy government spokesman Rachada Dhnadirek, the report said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha had ordered the country’s Covid-19 management authorities as well as the tourism and sports emergency operations centre to outline pandemic mitigation measures for the reopening of border checkpoints in Songkhla, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun.

It said that following Thailand’s policy to open a travel bubble with its southern neighbour, Malaysian tourists would be allowed to enter the country under the “Test and Go” scheme with no quarantine upon arrival.

However, the visitors would still be required to pass two RT-PCR tests after arriving in the country.

“The prime minister is confident Thailand will remain one of the world’s top tourist destinations despite the pandemic,” Rachada was quoted as saying.

“The government will support efforts to revitalise tourism, with an emphasis on public health and safety,” she added.

Dr Suthep Phetmak, a regional public health inspector-general, said the Covid-19 situation in both countries was similar.

According to him, since there were about 20,000 new cases reported as of Feb 12, public health authorities expected the risk of the border reopening to be low.

Suthep said government agencies would prepare immigration processes, testing, hotels and businesses in a Covid-19 free setting, including public transport, tourism sites, restaurants and departmental stores, before the reopening.