By Dexter Tilo
With vaccines rolling out and cases declining in some parts of the world, various countries have begun opening their borders to tourists in a bid to revitalize a hard-hit sector from COVID-19.
In the Philippines, the Department of Tourism (DOT) recently brought up that it has been observing Thailand’s “Phuket sandbox” scheme as a potential model to the country’s own opening up to foreign tourists.
As the nation prepares for tourism reopening, here are some neighboring countries that lifted their tourist restrictions while keeping some protocols at play to keep COVID-19 away.
THAILAND
Thailand has a special option for vaccinated tourists who want to enter their country called the "Phuket Sandbox" program. Under the scheme, arrivals will be asked to present a valid passport, an approved certificate of vaccination, as well as an insurance policy that covers COVID-19-related expenses.
The program opens Phuket Island to travelers, where they can stay for less than 14 nights before being asked to leave. They will be required to take additional RT-PCR tests on Day 6 or 7 and Day 12 or 13 of their stay.
If they want to stay longer, they must stay in the island for 14 nights and obtain a transfer form before being permitted to visit other extension areas in Krabi, Phang-Nga, or Surat Thani.
Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Chonburi, meanwhile, will be part of the country’s second phase of reopening, which will begin in November. The third phase will take effect in December, while the last part of reopening will begin in January next year.
Thailand has reported over a million cases since the pandemic began, with vaccinations already covering about 33.1% of the population, according to Reuters' COVID-19 tracker.
VIETNAM
Travels to Vietnam's Phu Quoc Island will be opened for fully vaccinated foreigners starting November this year, according to its state media.
Tourists who want to visit the island should have their second dose taken at least 14 days and not more than 12 months since the date of their entry. They will also need to present a negative PCR test that was taken within 72 hours before their departure, said the report.
Vietnam has more than 780,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. Over 32.6 million received their first vaccine dose, with 9.4 million fully vaccinated.
SINGAPORE
Singapore is also lifting its border restrictions for a select number of fully vaccinated entrants coming from Brunei and Germany via its Vaccinated Travel Pass, which must be applied for seven to 30 days prior to planned date of entry.
The state will not charge visitors for the application, but it will ask them to pay for their post-arrival COVID-19 PCR tests.
In addition, visitors will also need to undergo a PCR test within 48 hours before their scheduled departure time to Singapore. The state will only honor results that will come from internationally accredited or recognized laboratory, clinic, or medical facility.
According to the government, if the reopening scheme works smoothly, the state will consider opening up to more countries. Singapore is known for being a business and tourist hotspot in Southeast Asia, where the iconic Merlion Park can be found. Over four million people have received a full dose of the COVID-19 vaccine there.
INDONESIA
Indonesia also announced its plans to reopen Bali to select international tourists this month through travel corridor arrangements.
The said nations targeted by the country include the United States, Russia, Germany, and England, according to local media reports.
Indonesia has reported 4.21 million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, while around 50.4 million people have been vaccinated there.
MALAYSIA
Malaysia has reopened Langkawi, a resort destination, for domestic tourists as part of a phased reopening plan.
According to authorities, tourist destinations will only be opened to international travelers as part of the country's phase 4 of the proposed reopening plan.
Malaysia has tallied over two million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began, according to its Health Ministry, but vaccinations are on a roll with 61% of the 32 million population already receiving full doses.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
The city of Dubai in the UAE is open to tourists from other countries, with authorities only needing a negative PCR test result that was issued within 72 hours before the traveler's time of departure.
Additional tests may be conducted in airports depending on the tourist's destination, and if ever symptoms of COVID-19 appear. The quarantine will also be mandatory for tourists until the test results are revealed.
The UAE has reported over 735,000 cases of COVID-19, according to its Health Ministry, while 83.37% of its population are fully vaccinated.
OMAN
Oman is also opening its borders to international travelers who are fully vaccinated with approved jabs in the state, namely Pfizer Biontech, Oxford AstraZeneca, Sputnik, Sinovac, Moderna, Sinopharm, Cofshield AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson.
Travelers are urged to present a vaccine certificate that shows they received full doses of the vaccines, with the second one taken not less than 14 days before the arrival date, according to reports. They also need to present a negative COVID-19 test, which was issued 96 hours prior to arrival for longer international flights, and 72 hours for shorter ones.
Oman has reported over 300,000 cases of COVID-19, according to its Ministry of Health, while 64.1% of the population have been vaccinated, according to Reuters' COVID-19 tracker.
SAUDI ARABIA
Tourists with a valid visa to Saudi Arabia are also allowed to enter the country as long as they are fully immunized against COVID-19.
Entrants should register their vaccine status online before obtaining their visa, and they should be inoculated with either of the following: two doses of the Oxford/Astra Zeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna or a single dose of the vaccine produced by Johnson and Johnson. Two doses of the Sinopharm or Sinovac jabs should be supplemented with a single booster dose of Saudi Arabia's recognized vaccines.
Upon arrival, travelers should present a negative PCRR test taken no more than 72 hours of departure, as well as download and register on the Tawakkalna application for contact tracing.
Fully vaccinated travelers will not be required to undergo quarantine, but those with incomplete doses and unrecognized vaccines are urged to book a quarantine package through their airline. They will undergo a five-day quarantine followed by a COVID-19 test on the fifth day of their arrival.
Saudi Arabia has reported over 547,000 cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic broke out, according to Reuters' tracker, with 61.3% of the population estimated to be fully vaccinated
EGYPT
Egypt also resumed international travel to its country, requiring a negative PCR test on arrival that was issued no more than 72 hours before the flight to the country.
Exempted from this rule are entrants who can present a COVID-19 vaccination certificate, with accepted jabs being AstraZeneca, Janssen, Moderna, Pfizer.BioNTech, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Sputnik V.
Upon arrival to the airport, passengers from select countries will be asked to undergo a COVID-19 PCR test and quarantine in their hotel room until they receive their results. The tests will be covered by the traveler.
Egypt has reported over 303,000 infections since the pandemic began, but only 8.1% of its population are estimated to have received full vaccine doses, according to Reuters.
JORDAN
Jordan is also reopening its doors to tourists from across the world, with arrivals required to complete a travel declaration form online to receive a personal QR code.
The QR code will serve as a certificate for fully vaccinated travelers upon arrival, who will no longer be required to undergo a PCR test.
Unvaccinated travelers will be subjected to a PCR test, which will be shouldered by the tourist for about P2,000 ($40).
All travelers will be asked to present a negative PCR test upon arrival to the country. The certificate must be issued within 72 hours prior to their departure from the airport.
Jordan has over 823,000 total infections since the pandemic began, with about 34.5% estimated to be vaccinated, according to Reuters.
MALDIVES
The archipelagic state of Maldives also reopened its doors to vaccinated tourists early this year.
According to their protocols, arrivals should have a valid PCR test result taken within 96 hours before their flight to Maldives.
They will be allowed to check-in at a guesthouse on any inhabited local island and will be required to undergo another PCR test prior to checking out.
