On 17 November 2021: From Singapore and Malaysia to Thailand and Vietnam, borders are reopening after 20 months of pandemic-induced restrictions and lockdowns.
Thailand’s reopening boosted tourism businesses and provided a ray of hope in Asia for the region’s airline industry. The country dropped quarantine restrictions for visitors from 63 low-risk countries on Nov 1. Some islands of Thailand are open to tourists from all countries. Travelers must be fully vaccinated and be able to provide a negative COVID-19 test.
Krabi, Thailand
Singapore has gradually reopened through its Vaccinated Travel Lane system. In December, it had 21 VTLs. Singapore had earlier announced Vaccinated Travel Lanes with 16 other countries. Thirteen of these are already in effect, and three more with Malaysia, Sweden and Finland are due to start on 29 November.
Travellers from Indonesia and India entered Singapore under a quarantine-free travel scheme from 29 November. In addition, travellers from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are allowed to enter Singapore from 6 December.
Indonesia has yet to open its borders for quarantine-free travel from Singapore. But travellers can travel without quarantine to and from India, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, which had already opened their borders for vaccinated travellers from Singapore.
In Malaysia, fully vaccinated foreign travellers can now visit Langkawi Island with no quarantine restrictions from 15 November. Malaysia has also announced that its borders should fully reopen to foreigners on 1 January 1 at the latest.
Malaysia and Indonesia have agreed to implement a travel corridor between the two countries through the Vaccinated Travel Lane arrangement, and more details will be announced at a later stage. The relevant ministers will refine the initiative so that the border between the two countries – involving the Kuala Lumpur-Jakarta-Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Lumpur -Bali- Kuala Lumpur routes – could be opened. On 14 October, Indonesia opened its doors to travellers from 19 countries visiting Bali and the Riau Islands.
Malaysia hopes that the travel lane with Indonesia can start in early 2022. Indonesia has no vaccinated travel lane (VTL) with other countries, but Malaysia announced its first VTL with Singapore is now due to start 29 November.
In Cambodia, where more than 87% of the population of nearly 17 million has been vaccinated against Covid-19, the country’s Prime Minister announced the country was opening immediately to fully-vaccinated tourists without quarantine. It is good news for the travel trade in Siem Reap, the country’s most popular destination and the beach resorts and islands of Sihanoukville.
Source: Lux Travel DMC
Vietnam started reopening the resort island of Phu Quoc later to international travellers who are fully vaccinated. Vietnam resumed scheduled flights starting with four flights per week from January next year and will reach seven flights weekly by next July. The government has approved the resumption of international flights between Vietnam and nine destinations that have managed high vaccination rates and good pandemic control on January 1.
They are San Francisco or Los Angeles (the U.S.), Singapore, Bangkok (Thailand), Phnom Penh (Cambodia), Vientiane (Laos), Beijing/Guangzhou (China), Tokyo (Japan), Seoul (South Korea), and Taipei (Taiwan).
Source: Lux Travel DMC
The Sri Lanka government has announced that all international airports in Sri are now reopened for commercial passenger flights. However, visitors must get a proper visa before travelling. Katunayake and Mattala airports are open to international chartered and commercial flights. Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) is open and it has also been certified as safe by the ACI.
Need to know more about the entry requirement of Southeast Asia, you may visit the link here:
