Thailand Promotes Cross-border Travel With New ‘Self-Drive ASEAN Tourism Manual’

A new self-drive tourism manual for ASEAN countries containing relevant rules and regulations about driving across the region’s members is already available, according to a press release from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) on Oct. 10.

The self-drive tourism guidebook is a collaborative effort among 10 ASEAN countries including Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. This initiative is part of the ASEAN Tourism Strategic Plan (ATSP) 2016-2025 with Thailand through the Department of Tourism under the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as the main coordinator. The manual comprises information and ideas gathered from ATSP seminars related to self-driving tourism.

“We hope it will serve to inspire people to explore the many diverse cultures, attractions, and landscapes of this fascinating region, both intra-ASEAN travellers and tourists from across the globe like Europe and America who could, for example, combine a visit to Thailand with visits to Lao PDR., Myanmar, Cambodia, or Malaysia to be enjoyed at their own pace, along their own routes,” TAT Governor Yuthasak Supasorn said in the press release. for free.

Each country listed helpful information on self-driving including visa and entry requirements, vehicle permits, border details and cross-border procedures, documentation requirements, COVID-19 situation and vaccine passport website links, speed limits, code of conduct, and do’s and don’ts for self-driving tourism, emergency and contact numbers, as well as a map that indicates which countries are left or right-side driving.

To help tourists customise their travel itineraries, the self-driving manual also features suggested routes, tourist destinations, and cross-border details. Here are the recommended routes from Thailand going to various ASEAN countries:

• For Thailand and Myanmar: Tak-Mae Sot-Myawaddy, Chiang Rai-Mae Sai-Chiang Tung-Sipo, and Ranong-Myanmar Island;
• For Thailand and Cambodia: Chanthaburi-Battambang, Aranyaprathet-Tonle Sap-Angkor Wat-Angkor Thom, and Sea of Trat-Sea of Cambodia;
• For Thailand and Lao PDR.: Udon Thani-Vientiane-Luang Prabang, Ubon Ratchathani-Southern Lao PDR.-Khone Phapheng-Liphi-Wat Phou, Nakhon Phanom-Mukdahan-Savannakhet-Thakhek, and Loei-Luang Prabang;
• For Thailand and Malaysia: Hat Yai-Sadao-Kuala Lumpur-Melaka, Satun-Padang Besar-Perlis-Langkawi, and Hat Yai-Pattani-Yala-Betong-Pengkalan Hulu-Penang-Kedah.

TAT also listed route suggestions when travelling within Thailand only. This includes the following:

• ‘An Adventure-Packed Trip at the Andaman Sea (Krabi-Satun-Phang-nga)
• ‘View the Mountains and Drive Straight to Prachuap (Phetchaburi-Prachuap Khiri Khan)
• ‘Wander through the Embrace of the Mountains’ (Nakhon Ratchasima-Nakhon Nayok)
• ‘Road-a-Palooza to Southern Isan!’ (Buri Ram-Surin-Si Sa Ket)
• ‘The Route of Dharma and Nature’ (Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai)
• ‘The Mae Hong Son-Chiang Mai Loop and Sea of Mist’ (Mae Hong Son-Chiang Mai)

For more information, you may download the new self-drive tourism manual via this link