After two years of closure, a number of countries are relaxing Covid restrictions to allow fully vaccinated travellers to enter again. Jenny Southan reports
As Globetrender predicted in its 2022 Travel Trend Forecast, Country Reopenings are this year’s number-one travel trend, delivering a real sense of optimism for both travellers and the people who work in the industry.
This week, Vietnam announced that it has re-opened its borders to fully jabbed international visitors with immediate effect.
They will still be required to show proof of a negative PCR test result taken up to 72 hours before their flight departure to Vietnam, or a negative antigen test taken up to 24 hours before flight departure (separate guidelines apply for sea and land borders; and children under two years old are not required to test).
Anyone entering the country will also be required to download and complete a health declaration on the Vietnam PC-Covid app before arrival into the country and during their stay in Vietnam. UK visitors can stay in Vietnam for up to 15 days without needing a visa on entry.
Kien Tran Trong, chairman of the Tourism Advisory Board, says: “There is so much for visitors to discover during a visit to our beautiful country. We know thousands of Brits can’t wait to come for their once in a lifetime holidays, experiencing the fantastic food, nature, scenery and meeting our people. We are thrilled that we can finally welcome them to Vietnam again after two years.”
New Zealand
New Zealand will begin reopening its borders in April 2022. Firstly, fully vaxxed travellers from Australia will be allowed to enter the country without needing to quarantine from April 13, rather than the previously planned date of July.
Then from May 2, fully vaccinated travellers from about 60 visa-waiver countries including the UK, US, Germany, Canada, Japan and Singapore, will be permitted entry.
The full reopening of the border will take place in October 2022, but Prime Minister Jacinda Arden says that this could also be brought forward.
All arrivals will need to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of boarding the flight to New Zealand, or a supervised rapid antigen test/LAMP test taken within 24 hours of departure.
Prime Minister Arden added: “Closing our border was one of the first actions we took to stop Covid-19, over two years ago, and its reopening will spur our economic recovery throughout the remainder of the year.”
She added: “We’re ready to welcome the world back… We are a safe place to visit and New Zealand will be ready with open arms.”
Malaysia and South Korea
Malaysia will reopen its borders on April 1, allowing international visitors who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 to enter the country without quarantine.
Inbound visitors will be need to undergo pre-departure tests (RT-PCR) and upon-arrival tests (RTK-Antigen under professional supervision) 24 hours after arrival.