It’s difficult to always have your finger on the pulse, to know everything that’s going on around the world. That’s why, each month, we put together a handy run-down of the situation in each of our destinations.
For each country, we have put together a brief, bitesize policy summary. We’ve also handpicked a couple of recent news stories – some related to the travel industry and some we just think you might find interesting.
But first, a brief summary of covid stats in each of our destinations:
*’Declining/increasing designation is based on a comparison with the 7-day average from 22nd August. The word restricted here is subject to a fair amount of difference across our destinations. Check out the policy summaries below for more information.
News Roundup
Feel free to click on a country below to head straight there:
Mexico is open to travellers. There is no need to provide a negative PCR test or quarantine on arrival, though most resorts ask guests to fill out health questionnaires.
The land border between Mexico and the US remains closed for nonessential travel.
Mexico has a four-tier traffic light system of restrictions, with red signifying maximum restrictions, orange limiting capacity to 50% in tourist establishments, including restaurants, bars and shopping centres, yellow allowing for all work to resume and public gatherings to take place, and green meaning there are no restrictions in place.
Most states currently fall under orange, including Quintana Roo, where the popular tourist destination of Cancun is.
The Dominican Republic is open for tourism without any need for quarantine.
Some travellers do not even need to show a negative covid test depending on the country of origin. For example, visitors from the US don’t need to show a negative test, whereas visitors from the UK do.
There are some limited restrictions in place, including social distancing measures, the encouragement of mask-wearing, and a nighttime curfew from 11pm to 5 am.
The country is divided into colour-coded provinces with varying levels of restrictions. In dark-red zones (Bangkok), gatherings of more than 25 people are banned, dine in is limited to 75% capacity in non-air-conditioned venues, 50% in air-conditioned venues, and shopping malls can open until 8pm only.
Authorities in Thailand will look to ease restrictions over the coming weeks.
Thailand was recently placed on the red list for travellers from the UK, labelling it among the highest risk countries.
From 23 August, Ho Chi Minh City residents are banned from leaving their homes except for emergencies. Hanoi, Danang, Hoi An and many southern localities under the strictest social distancing order, “Directive 16”.
Many other localities across the country are imposing similarly strict measures in the hope of curbing the spread of the delta variant.
Travel to Japan remains off-limits for most travellers
Travellers from permitted destinations must undertake a 14-day quarantine
Government ministers confirmed to local media that his team is exploring options for “vaccine passports.” Business travellers would be prioritised for these at first.
Cities are far quieter than usual, and the government has the right to request the closure of businesses in areas of high transmission.
Could Singapore be close to opening up more travel corridors?
Policy Summary
Travellers from China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Germany and Brunei do not have to serve quarantine on arrival in Singapore.
Short-term travel to Singapore is permitted for Germany and Brunei. Short-term travellers into Singapore must download the TraceTogether App on their mobile phones.
In the Preparatory Stage of a lockdown easing programme. Groups of up to 5 vaccinated people permitted to dine in, social gatherings of 5 people allowed, staycations permitted up to 5 people per room.
Schools are open; up to 50% of employees may return to the workplace.
It is obligatory to wear masks when outside.
Taking temperature at public places is no longer a requirement from 19 August 2021.
Indonesia has closed all borders to foreign visitors except for official visits, those with special permission and those under travel corridor arrangements.
Indonesia has its own level system for grading the risk in different areas, ranked from 1-4, called PPKM.
Jakarta is at level 3, while Bali is at level 4.
Measures under Level 4 include; all nonessential companies to enforce working from home, shopping malls open at 50% capacity for vaccinated, restaurants are open for dine-in at 25% capacity, small businesses permitted to open until 9pm, tourist destinations are closed.
Domestic travellers on flights must show proof of vaccination or provide a negative PCR test.
Passengers are not allowed to enter Malaysia, with exceptions for Malaysian nationals, permanent residents, those with a work pass, international students and MM2H permit holders.
There is either a 14-day or a 21-day quarantine on arrival, depending on the country of origin.
There is a National Recovery Plan (NRP), under which different states are in different phases.
Interstate travel for all states banned. Mask wearing in crowded places is obligatory. Schools are closed nationwide. Dine-in is available for those already vaccinated.
Cambodia welcomes a chain of convenience stores – a temple in its own right…
Policy Summary
All schools nationwide are closed, and gatherings are banned. Varying measures of lockdown across the provinces according to the severity of the outbreak.
There is the possibility of entering Cambodia, but it is a complex process. Travellers must have valid medical certificates issued 72hrs before travel, proof of medical insurance worth up to $50,000, be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival and undertake a 14-day quarantine with a re-test on the 14th day. They must also deposit $2,000 on arrival, from which certain costs (tests) will be deducted.
International scheduled and chartered flights are suspended.
Districts in Laos are divided into colour-coded zones until 2 September. Red zones are areas with 1 or more cases where contact tracing is not possible, yellow zones where contact tracing is possible, and green zones for COVID-free areas. Movement is highly restricted in red zones.
Most visa issuances have been suspended, except for limited business visas.
Those who can enter have to go through a 10-day quarantine.
State of emergency declared until August 2023. Martial law has been declared, and schools remain closed. Stay at home orders are in place across many different regions.
China’s borders remain closed to nearly all travellers.
China already has a Fast Lane agreement with Singapore, allowing business travellers with the correct visas to enter. Business travellers from South Korea are also allowed in.
There were rumours that China would only allow vaccinated travellers who had received the Sinovac dose to enter, but these have been denied by the Chinese government.
Life is largely back to normal in China. Citizens still need to use their tracing apps to show they have ‘green’ status to use pubic transport, but most things are open.
Life can change quickly – a few provinces have imposed quick lockdowns in response to any uptick in cases.
Hong Kong is sticking to a strict policy against Covid.
Policy Summary
Travellers from mainland China, Taiwan, and Macao are allowed to enter Hong Kong.
Hong Kong residents are being asked to work from home where possible and avoid social gatherings. They have a rigorous track and trace system to monitor cases.
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