Singapore is set to drastically ease its coronavirus-related travel restrictions at the end of the month. Having previously had some of the strictest regulations in this regard, the city-state now feels the time is right to open its borders without the need for quarantine. This is because most of its COVID-19 cases originate locally.
Tightly regulated at present
Before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Singapore was a useful location for passengers looking to transit to destinations in the Far East. Its national carrier, Singapore Airlines, played a key role in transporting passengers all over the world to its hub at Changi Airport, where a myriad of connections awaited them.
Singapore was also a major component in journeys from Europe to Australia, as well as being a significant destination in its own right in sectors such as business and motorsport. However, two years ago, when the scale of COVID-19's impact on the world of commercial aviation became abundantly clear, everything changed.
At present, entry into Singapore is a complex matter. Singapore has designated certain countries as Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL). From here, fully-jabbed passengers can enter quarantine-free but only on VTL-specific flights. Furthermore, such travelers must also take both a pre-departure test and one upon arrival.
Time to change
However, by the end of the month, the arrivals process for passengers traveling to Singapore will have been greatly simplified. This is because, at 23:59 local time on March 31st, it plans to streamline its entry requirements by removing the VTL program and listing all the world's nations under its 'General Travel Category.'
This change will mean that what an inbound passenger has to do upon arrival in Singapore will now depend solely on their vaccination status, rather than their country of origin. As such, all vaccinated travelers will now be free from quarantine. The Independent notes that the need to take a test on arrival will also be dropped.
This means that, for those who have received at least two jabs, the only remaining obstacle is the pre-departure test. However, according to Al Jazeera, Singapore is also considering ending this requirement. Meanwhile, non-vaccinated travelers will still face entry approval, testing, and quarantine restrictions in the country.
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Why is Singapore opening up now?
According to The Independent, Singaporean authorities have stated that "many countries/regions [have] passed the peak of their Omicron wave, and our local COVID-19 situation [is] stabilizing." Al Jazeera quotes Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong as adding that "nearly all our cases our domestic, originating within the community. Arrivals from abroad constitute only a very small proportion of cases."
These have been key factors in allowing Singapore to reopen to vaccinated travelers. As for the country itself, government data shows that 93% of Singaporeans have received at least one jab against COVID-19, with 92% having received two. 71% have also had boosters. As such, on March 29th, it will also ease internal restrictions, allowing larger gatherings and dropping a ban on live music.
What do you make of Singapore's upcoming restriction changes? Have you traveled there during the pandemic? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments.