TODAY is April Fool’s Day, traditionally a day where pranksters make jokes at the expense of others.
But jokes aside, today, April 1, 2022, will hold special significance for Malaysians because this is the day (for all intents and purposes) we declare ourselves unafraid of Covid-19.
I know, this isn’t the same as a Covid-free declaration nor has the Prime Minister declared that we are now in an endemic stage, but what is no less significant is that we have opened our borders to quarantine-free travel.
The significance of this move is going to have far-reaching consequences for the future of this country. The nay-sayers are already predicting a doomsday scenario where all hell breaks loose and our Covid-19 numbers shoot through the roof.
Of course, there are risks to us opening our borders, but the move will surely have a positive effect on our battered economy and the tourism sector in particular.
Tourism industry players – airlines, travel agents, hotels, transport companies and meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) operators – are gearing up to receive foreign tourists when the country’s borders reopen today.
In fact, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture is targeting two million tourist arrivals in Malaysia this year leading to revenue of more than RM6.8bil.
Before Covid-19, tourism and tourism-related sub-sectors like retail, transportation, as well as food and beverage, hired an estimated three million workers.
The arrival of foreign tourists may not match pre-pandemic levels, but hotels and resorts across the nation can expect a jump in reservations in a large part due to the lifting of quarantine rules.
Singapore’s move to follow suit and lift Covid-19 travel restrictions will also significantly impact travel between the two countries. The expected further lifting of on-arrival PCR tests at Changi in the next two or three weeks will mean faster processing of travellers, something that KL International Aiport should emulate.
The spill-on effect from the April 1 ruling will hopefully lift the aviation sector out of its doldrums.
Coincidentally last week, I spoke to two airline industry workers who lost their jobs during the pandemic. The first, a pilot, was retrenched from Korean Air in 2020 and has struggled to get a permanent job since. The father of two is now a personal driver for a Kuala Lumpur-based businessman.
The second is an aeronautical engineer with Singapore Airlines who also lost his job in 2020. The Malaysian who is based in Singapore is making ends meet as a Lalamove rider.
Both are hopeful that airline jobs will return with the international borders reopening. It may not happen immediately, but judging from bookings across various airlines, recovery is on the horizon.
The pent-up demand for travel will also see more locals leaving our shores for other destinations and judging from social media posts of the well-heeled, this is already happening.
Beyond travel, a great deal of businesses and industries globally are looking to invest in new markets more so as socio-economic conditions become more challenging across the globe.
Malaysia is still an attractive proposition for these companies, but so are our competitors. Look at our neighbours – Singapore wants to replace Hong Kong as the regional financial centre, Indonesia is spending billions and attracting billions more by building a brand new capital while Vietnam has attracted a flurry of investors.
Our ministries and government agencies must seize the opportunity that April 1 will provide by engaging potential investors rather than wait for them to come to us. Foreign direct investments (FDIs) are crucial for the nation more than ever given inflationary pressures, the looming worry of interest rate hikes and our continued brain drain.
This is imperative because the Russia invasion of Ukraine conflict and the ensuing sharp rise in commodity prices, particularly oil, have put a dampener on prospects for a quick economic recovery.
The impact of our borders reopening will only be seen in the coming weeks. We may or may not see a spike in Covid-19 cases, but as of now we have not followed Singapore by making it optional to wear masks outdoors.
Our numbers are still high, and this is perhaps a step too far in relaxing restrictions. Still, unlike Singapore, it’s a relief that we don’t have health inspectors visiting restaurants using tape measures to ensure proper physical distancing between diners.
COVID Live - Coronavirus Statistics - Worldometer
We, however, look forward to the time when we no longer need to scan the MySejahtera app to gain access when we visit business premises. The app should be used to store your digital vaccination certificate and other details without compromising on privacy details. After all, just like the temperature checks that were ever present only a few months ago, scanning your MySejahtera has outlived its usefulness.
So, today is a milestone for Malaysia and an opportunity to make up for two lost years. The road to recovery starts here and the next weeks and months will show if the decision to open our borders has helped us turn the corner.
Malaysia – Reopening of Borders on 1 April 2022 - Home
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