Alarm in Beijing after announcement zero-COVID policy may last five years.
Lockdown Status: BEIJING — A Chinese health authority spokesperson on June 17 urged the full implementation of COVID-related regulations and strengthened virus control efforts at key enclosed sites with gatherings of people.
Travel Restrictions: Nanjing, Wuxi, Changzhou, Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xiamen, and Ningbo cut quarantine times for international arrivals from 14 to 10 or seven days, travel and quarantine requirements are subject to change.
Hong Kong SAR shores up tourism offerings during downtime.
Lockdown Status: The Government exercises the power under the Prevention and Control of Disease (Compulsory Testing for Certain Persons) Regulation (Cap. 599J) that requires any person who had been present at 36 specified places during the specified period (persons subject to compulsory testing) to undergo a COVID-19 nucleic acid test.
Travel Restrictions: “10+7” anti-epidemic measure effective from June 15. Individuals travelling from Hong Kong SAR, Chinese Taipei, or foreign countries will be subject to “10 days of centralised medical obseravation” and ” 7 days of health self-monitoring”, provided that they meet certain conditions. This “10+7” anti-epidemic measure applies to arrivals who meet all the following conditions: 1) Having completed the course of COVID-19 vaccination prior to entry; 2) Having tested negative in the nucleic acid tests on arrival and during the period of centralized medical observation in isolation; 3) Agree to comply with relevant anti-epidemic requirements.
Japan prepares for bounce in tourism, but pre-pandemic demand still far off.
Lockdown Status: The priority preventative measures issued in January 2022 were lifted in all prefectures on March 21. A range of measures is in place, including restrictions on dining, holding events, travelling, work commutes and etc. Most tourist attractions in Japan are now open.
Travel Restrictions: Foreign nationals who apply for new entry into Japan based on either of the following categories (1), (2) or (3) below are regarded as those with “special exceptional circumstances” and are allowed for new entry into Japan in principle, if the receiving organisations located in Japan complete prescribed applications in the Entrants, Returnees Follow-up System (ERFS). (1) Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay (less than three months) for purposes including business and employment (2) Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a short-term stay for tourism (only when a travel agency among others organising the trip serves as the receiving organisation of the entrants) (3) Foreign nationals newly entering Japan for a long-term stay.
Flights to resume between Korea (ROK)’s Gimpo and Japan’s Haneda airports.
Lockdown Status: People allowed to take masks off outside but will still be required to wear masks when attending outdoor gatherings, concerts, or sporting events with 50 or more people. Other than these situations, wearing a mask in outdoor spaces will not be required.
Travel Restrictions: From June 8, all overseas entrants are exempted from isolation, which is the final phase of the post-Omicron revision of entry regulations, in consideration of the continued downward trend in new COVID19 cases in the nation and the stable pandemic situation abroad. Negative test results supervised by healthcare professionals for either PCR tests taken within the last 48 hours or RAT taken in the last 24 hours before departure and PCR test within 3 days from the arrival date still required.
Southeast Asia
Bali’s international arrivals reach 30-40% of pre-pandemic levels, domestic 70%; 2022 international travellers target of 1.5 million set.
Lockdown Status: Prevention measures graded by PPKM Levels 1-4 in place across the country until July 4 for all regions. Greater Jakarta Area and Bali are under Level 1, with no capacity limitations in public areas such as offices, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, and tourist attractions. Testing is required for non-fully vaccinated domestic travellers.
Travel Restrictions: International vaccinated travellers permitted to enter Indonesia quarantine-free, Visa on Arrival for certain nationalities.
Johor reports 12 million+ people have crossed the Singapore-Malaysia land border checkpoints.
Lockdown Status: In Transition to Endemic phase. Interstate travel permitted. Mask wearing in crowded places obligatory. All economic sectors open.
Travel Restrictions: Full reopening for fully vaccinated travellers subject to prevention measures.
NUG urges int’l community to provide material assistance to end the crisis, criticises ASEAN.
Lockdown Status: State of emergency declared until July 2022. Martial law declared in certain townships. Curfew of 12 AM – 4 AM.
Travel Restrictions: Tourist and business e-visas open for application. International commercial flights opened.
Singapore announces a $1.5 billion SGD support package for lower-income families and vulnerable groups, amid rising inflation.
Lockdown Status: In Transition Phase to COVID-19 Resilience. Most safe management measures have been lifted, including group sizes for mask-off activities, safe distancing measures, capacity limit for larger settings or events with over 1,000 participants, vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) for most settings, and the use of TraceTogether and SafeEntry for most venues. Masks are still required in indoor settings, optional for outdoors.
Travel Restrictions: Vaccinated Travel Framework in effect from Apr 1, allowing quarantine-free access to all fully vaccinated travellers.
Thailand removes face mask mandate, restores all economic activities with classification of whole country as green zone as of June 24.
Lockdown Status: Whole country classified as green zone. All economic activities permitted to reopen, including serving of alcohol and entertainment venues.
Travel Restrictions: Vaccinated travellers are permitted to enter Thailand without quarantine. Unvaccinated travellers with pre-departure RT-PCR test/ professional antigen test will also be allowed entry. From July 1, Thailand Pass and travel insurance requirement to be abolished for all travellers.
Lockdown Status: The Health Ministry’s assessment criteria grades cities and provinces from low to high COVID-19 risk. Face masks should be worn in public places.
Travel Restrictions: Tourists permitted entry to Vietnam, e-visa applications for 80 countries open, visa exemptions for 13 countries.
South Asia
TAPping soft skills! Ministry of Tourism in India rolls out Tourism Awareness Programme.
Lockdown Status: Facemask mandates and social distancing rules in public places are underway in almost all states. Officials in some states continue to ban large gatherings, limit capacity for public venues and transport, as well as curtail operations of educational institutions, sports facilities, recreational venues, religious sites, and tourist spots. Multiple states also allow only those with proof of vaccination to enter nonessential public venues and take public transport.
Travel Restrictions: 2% of passengers per flight will be randomly tested upon arrival. Passengers found to be symptomatic or tested positive shall be managed as per laid down standard protocol.
Lockdown Status: Wearing a mask is only mandatory in all health facilities for staff, patients and visitors, regardless of outbreak status, and in public arears of outbreak areas (where sample positivity is above 20%).
Travel Restrictions: Pre-arrival PCR test is not required for all passengers arriving Maldives. However, All individual(s) except tourists and Maldivians are recommended to undertake PCR testing between 3-5 days after arrival. Travel-related quarantine is no longer required.
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Ale resigns.
Lockdown Status: Businesses, stores, restaurants, and hotels resumed operations nationwide. Tourist activities, including trekking and mountaineering, among others have resumed.
Travel Restrictions: Visa-on-arrival has been resumed as usual as it was before the pandemic for passport holder from those countries that are eligible for visa-on-arrival. A vaccination certificate required. RT-PCR test required for those who have not completed a full dose of vaccination.
The Pacifics
Australian holidaymakers pay through the roof for accommodation as staff shortages bite.
Lockdown Status: Events, catering, mask-wearing, and social distancing measures, are determined and enforced by the state governments.
Travel Restrictions: Travellers entering or leaving Australia no longer require a negative pre-departure test, and cruise vessels can enter Australian territory. All incoming and outgoing international travellers may be requested to provide proof of two approved vaccine doses. All passengers arriving by air into Australia should complete the DPD.
Fiji reopens to international cruise calls.
Lockdown Status: Passengers with proof of full vaccination (for all travellers aged 16 andabove), travel insurance, pre-booked in-country RAT are exempted from quarantine.
Travel Restrictions: Passengers must book a COVID-19 rapid antigen test within 72 hours after arrival. If transiting, you may do so if you have a valid outward ticket within 72 hours of arrival, are fully vaccinated, and have a negative COVID-19 test. If the transit is 48 hours or more, travellers need to have a confirmed RAT in Fiji within 48-72 hours after arriving.
Hawaii tourism self-correction coming as economy whipsaws.
Lockdown Status: Hawaii’s statewide indoor mask mandate remains in place until further notice. On the county level, the County of Kauai, County of Maui, and County of Hawaii have repealed their COVID-19 Emergency Rules. The City and County of Honolulu’s Safe Access Oahu programme has ended.
Travel Restrictions: Travellers are no longer required to complete a Safe Travels application to enter. No COVID-related requirements for arriving domestic or international passengers.
Tourism cautiously optimistic as bookings build, despite another summer without the Chinese visitors.
Lockdown Status: Travelling permitted at all traffic light settings (Red, Orange and Green). All of New Zealand is now in Orange setting, no capacity limits or distancing requirements at venues, masks are only mandatory indoors.
Travel Restrictions: No proof of a negative COVID-19 test required to enter New Zealand. Most travellers need to be vaccinated and take 2 rapid antigen tests (RATs) after arriving in New Zealand. Proof of vaccination and the New Zealand Traveller Declaration not required for transitting passengers.
The Americas & West Asia
Indonesia, Azerbaijan to cooperate in halal tourism.
Lockdown Status: Entertainment venues, sporting events with audience, on -site catering, inter-city and inter-regional travels, entering airport for non-travellers are permitted. COVID-19 passport is required for people above 18 to enter catering facilities, hotels, malls and large shopping centers, cinemas, theatres, and entertainment centres.
Travel Restrictions: Entry restrictions extended until September 1, 2022; QRcode is not necessary for COVID-19 documents.
Canada suspends vaccine mandate.
Lockdown Status: All economic sectors open. Masks are mandatory in public transit and health care settings. The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) resumed services at most small vessel.
Travel Restrictions: From June 11 – 30, 2022, the government of Canada is temporarily suspending mandatory random arrival testing at all airports for travellers who qulify as fully vaccinated.
US tourism set to improve with timely removal of travel testing.
Lockdown Status: CDC plans to amend its Mask Order as soon as practicable to not require that people wear masks while outdoors on conveyances or while outdoors on the premises of transportation hubs, and to not require that people wear masks on buses or vans operated by public or private school systems.
Travel Restrictions: CDC no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight.
