Singapore is optimistic that they could be able to launch a vaccinated travel lane (VTL) by the end of November for the Singapore-Johor land border.
Singapore – The possibility of having a Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) could take place soon in the land borders of Singapore and Malaysia. This is going to be quarantine-free land travel that may start at the end of November.
What you need to know about the reopening of Singapore-Johor land border under VTL
Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong responded to a question asked in a press conference and said that Singapore-Johor or the land border with Malaysia could reopen by the end of the month.
“I’m optimistic that we will be able to launch this VTL for land around the end of this month, close to the launch of the VTL for air. And it is also possible that we would be able to do so on the same day,” said Mr Gan at the 20 November press conference as reported by The Straits Times.
Additionally, with the reopening of the land VTL, there will be a certain limit on the number of travellers, as said by Mr Gan. The priority of reopening is to reunite families who are separated due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Moreover, the flights between Changi Airport and Kuala Lumpur International (KLIA) will reopen for quarantine-free travel starting 29 November.
With vaccinated travel lanes (VTL) in Singapore, it is expected that only fully vaccinated travellers can travel into designated VTL flights.
Mr Gan has not confirmed the final date for the reopening and hoping to share the plan for the coming weeks.
1400 people are expected to cross the land VTL on its first week of reopening
In addition, Johor Chief Minister Hasni Mohammad said in a state assembly session (21 Nov) that they expected about 1400 people to travel between Johor and Singapore in the first week of reopening.
“Based on our capacity and early preparation to open our borders for the land VTL, we expect to see the movement of some 1,440 people in the first week of implementation,” said Mr Hasni, as reported in Channel News Asia.
Before the border restrictions, about 300,000 Malaysians would cross the Causeway daily for work, added by the Channel News Asia.
Mr Hasni added, the number of travellers is expected to increase by 2,500 (in the second week) and later to 5,000 in the third week.
In addition, Mr Hasni has said that the reopening of the Singapore-Johor is an important victory in the cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore to help recover the economies of both countries.
Before the reopening, the Johor state government and Malaysia’s Health Ministry were strengthening COVID-19 testing procedures at the land border checkpoints.
Furthermore, the authorities are going to conduct a pilot test on 22 November at the Singapore-Johor land border.
