Singapore will expand its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme to include Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Hong Kong, and Indonesia’s Batam and Bintan from February 25, as well as with Israel and Philippines from March 4.
The VTLs with Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE were supposed to start in early December, but were deferred due to Omicron. Starting from 10.00 on February 22, travellers from these three countries can apply for the VTL pass to enter Singapore.
Singapore’s unilateral opening arrangement with Hong Kong will be replaced by a VTL starting February 25.
These new VTLs will join 24 others that are in operation.
Vaccinated travellers will also soon be able to fly into Singapore from all cities in Thailand, beyond Bangkok where there is an existing VTL, without quarantine.
At the same time, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) will lift the 50 per cent cap on the daily number of VTL travellers entering Singapore by air, and progressively restore the quota from 5,000 to 15,000 by March 4.
Entry procedures will also be simplified. Singapore will cease the seven-day testing regime as well as on-arrival PCR test for VTL travellers. The only test needed is a supervised ART at any designated test centres in Singapore within 24 hours of the traveller’s entry.
Steps are taken to simplify the current border restrictions for non-VTL travellers from 23.59 on February 21. These include travel history requirements reduced to seven days from 14, and stay-home notice duration standardised at seven days.
The government will also revise its border risk classification system.
Category 1 countries and regions are deemed to be of lowest risk of Covid-19 infections.
The second is a General Travel category consisting of countries that Singapore has started VTLs for, together with non-VTL countries and regions. VTL travellers from countries in this category will have quarantine-free travel, while those from non-VTL countries have to undergo a seven-day stay-home notice.
The third is a new restricted category, which will include countries that warrant stricter border measures owing to developing Covid-19 situations. There will be no new restricted countries/ regions in this category for a start.
Furthermore, CAAS will remove departure test requirements for all passengers transferring or transiting through Singapore from 23.59 on February 21.
The PATA Asia Pacific Visitor Forecasts 2022-2024 Full Report released on February 15 is predicting international visitor arrivals (IVAs) growth rates of 126 per cent to 84 per cent for mild, medium, and severe scenarios in 2022 versus 2021.
The increase in the absolute number of IVAs is predicted therefore to range from 72.5 million to 175.7 million under the severe and mild scenarios respectively, lifting the total volume of visitor arrivals to between 159 million and 315 million, under those same scenarios respectively.
While it is a positive and welcome development after two years of extremely difficult conditions, the international travel and tourism sector of the Asia-Pacific region still has much to repair and revitalise.
The forecasted increases in 2022 arrivals, for example, still only return them to 23-45 per cent of the level of foreign arrivals received in pre-pandemic 2019.
Moving forward to 2024, IVA growth over the next three years is projected to be positive, with the volume of IVAs in 2024 being equal to, or better than that of 2019, under two of the three scenarios.
PATA CEO Liz Ortiguera said: “Our latest forecast report numbers, based on data as of November 2021 reviewed in conjunction with our recent research advisory panel updates provided on January 24, 2021, provide the definitive outlook for Asia-Pacific visitor arrival forecasts. As noted by our panel, the effect of the Omicron variant is projected to have a small incremental impact for now, with the key earlier assumptions still driving the forecast.
“Equitable access and deployment of vaccines plus a practical risk-based approach to health and safety protocols in travel is foundational to not only the travel sector’s sustained recovery but to the overall global recovery from the pandemic.
“We share the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) view that the pharmaceutical sector must address barriers to access and affordability for all destinations. Furthermore, as acknowledged by the WHO, travel bans will not prevent international spread. Instead, travel channels should remain open with clear, practical guidelines as recently shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and WHO.”
Ortiguera also noted: “Various research studies and early travel patterns indicate a heightened consumer interest in a pivot to the right side of travel – longer journeys, more authentic experiences, and nature-based, wellness-oriented, and socially-conscious travel offerings are among the key trends for today’s travellers.
“Destinations can expedite their recovery by staying top-of-mind with consumers, communicating requirements with clarity and consistency, and offering a sustainable, healthy destination experience.”