Japan🇯🇵 to lift travel ban for 12 countries, including Singapore🇸🇬

➡️ Japan is set to remove a ban on overseas travel to 12 countries and regions, including Singapore and China, from next month, according to a report by the Yomiuri newspaper.

➡️ The others include Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Vietnam and Malaysia, said the report.

➡️ The newspaper also stated that the Japanese government, which currently bans travel to 159 countries and regions, will recommend that travellers refrain from unnecessary and non-urgent visits to these 12 countries and regions.

https://www.ttgasia.com/2020/10/08/japan-to-lift-travel-ban-for-12-countries-including-singapore

Australia🇦🇺 in travel talks with Singapore🇸🇬, Japan🇯🇵, Korea 🇰🇷 as COVID-19 cases ease

➡️ Australia is in talks with Japan, South Korea, Singapore and South Pacific nations on reopening travel as coronavirus infections ease, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Sunday (Oct 11).

➡️ Australia shut its borders in March to slow the spread of the coronavirus and is looking to revive tourism to help pull the country out of its first recession in nearly three decades.

➡️ While Australia has managed to contain the outbreak better than others, it is facing a second wave in the state of Victoria, where Melbourne remains under a tight lockdown. But infections there have been falling since early August.

➡️ Mr Morrison said he had spoken to his counterparts in Japan, South Korea and some Pacific nations, while Foreign Minister Marise Payne had held talks in Singapore this week on resuming travel.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/australia-covid-19-travel-lockdown-borders-open-new-cases-13254722

Singapore 🇸🇬 and Hong Kong 🇭🇰 to launch travel bubble - the first in the world

➡️ Quarantine is eliminated for both sides under the deal, while airlines must operate dedicated routes on which transit passengers are not allowed.

➡️ Travellers can move freely in either city and do not have to provide a predetermined itinerary, but protective mechanisms are in place to change or even suspend the travel bubble in the event of a rebound in Covid-19 infections.

https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/hong-kong-economy/article/3105607/coronavirus-hong-kong-singapore-set-reveal

Philippines🇵🇭 lifts travel ban for citizens, non-essential overseas trips can resume from Oct 21

➡️ Non-essential overseas travel can resume, starting Oct 21, ending a restriction in effect since July and potentially increasing customers for Philippine carriers that have suffered amid the pandemic.

➡️ Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Filipinos intending to leave the country must have negative antigen test results, confirmed plane tickets, and health and travel insurance.

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/philippines-covid-19-task-force-lifts-overseas-travel-ban-for-citizens

Thailand 🇹🇭 is in talks with China 🇨🇳 to establish a quarantine-free travel corridor by January to rescue its ailing tourism industry

➡️ The current mandatory quarantine will be replaced by coronavirus testing and a mobile tracking application for the Chinese visitors if the return of foreign tourists does not lead to fresh Covid-19 outbreak

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/thailand-in-talks-with-china-on-quarantine-free-travel-corridor

Singapore 🇸🇬 to increase group size for tours

➡️ From 1 November 2020, the maximum group size for walking, cycling and kayaking tours will be increased from 10 to 20 pax (excluding tourist guide), with the maximum number of pax in any one sub-group capped at prevailing social gathering size.

https://www.stb.gov.sg/content/stb/en/home-pages/advisory-for-tours.html

Singapore 🇸🇬 and Germany 🇩🇪 to set up a reciprocal green lane

➡️ The reciprocal green lane will enable essential travel for business or official purposes, via direct flights between both countries

➡️ Eligible applicants will have to abide by the COVID-19 prevention and public health measures mutually agreed by both countries

➡️ Operational details of the green lane, including the procedural requirements, health protocols, and application process, will be announced at a later date.

https://cna.asia/2HxEQsn

Singapore will lift its border restrictions for all visitors from mainland China and Australia’s Victoria state from next Friday (Nov 6).

➡️ This will take effect from midnight on Nov 6 and includes all travellers who are not Singapore citizens, permanent residents or long-term pass holders, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said on Thursday.

➡️ From 12pm on Oct 30, visitors travelling from mainland China and Victoria state can apply for an Air Travel Pass (ATP) for entry into Singapore on or after Nov 6.

➡️ Applicants must have remained in either mainland China or Australia in the last 14 consecutive days prior to their entry and must travel to Singapore on direct flights without transit.

➡️ They will then undergo a COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test upon arrival at the airport. These travellers will be allowed to go about their activities in Singapore, without a need to serve a stay-home notice, if their test result is negative.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-singapore-lift-border-restrictions-china-victoria-nov-6-13404790?cid=telegram_cna_social_28112017_cna

Thinking of travelling to Singapore for business? Here is a quick guide on the various air travel arrangements Singapore has with these destinations!

Covid insurance now available for inbound travellers to Singapore

➡️ Inbound foreign visitors to Singapore will now be able to purchase travel insurance coverage for Covid-19 related costs incurred locally

➡️ With the kickstart of the Singapore-Hong Kong travel bubble, travellers flying with Singapore Airlines (SIA) from either Singapore or Hong Kong also have the option of adding Covid-covered travel insurance

https://www.travelweekly-asia.com/Destination-Travel/Covid-insurance-now-available-for-inbound-travellers-to-Singapore?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TWAedaily

KEEP THIS HANDY: Here's a guide to how to redeem your $100 tourism vouchers from Dec 1.

Can you combine your SingapoRediscovers Vouchers with another person's? The answer to this and more: https://str.sg/Jb28

🇸🇬 Get ideas on where to use the vouchers: str.sg/sg-go-where

Hong Kong and Singapore air bubble to be delayed next year

➡️ The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 1) that both cities have decided to defer the start of the air travel bubble to beyond this month, given that the number of local unlinked cases in Hong Kong is still high.

➡️ The exact start date of the arrangement will be reviewed late this month.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/spore-hk-travel-bubble-will-be-delayed-to-next-year?utm_medium=social&utm_source=telegram&utm_campaign=sttg

Vietnam to halt international commercial flights

➡️ Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc ordered the country's aviation authority to halt international commercial flights after the nation reported its first local coronavirus cases in almost three months, according to a posting on the government's website.

➡️ The Premier, who said "rescue" flights bringing Vietnamese home from abroad should continue, instructed the Ho Chi Minh City government to quickly trace and isolate everyone who came in contact with those who tested positive this week, the website reported.

https://str.sg/JEgh

🟢 Stay-home notice cut to 14 days for travellers arriving in Singapore from high-risk areas, but additional COVID-19 rapid tests required 😷

Read more: https://str.sg/34rL

🇯🇵 "Organisers of the Tokyo Olympics have agreed to hold the event without spectators"

Read more: https://str.sg/3JGP

🇸🇬 "Singapore will soon allow travellers fully vaccinated overseas to be eligible for vaccination-differentiated safety measures."

Read more: https://cna.asia/3iXjvJl