Singapore (CU)_ According to Singapore Transport Minister Ong Ye Kung, countries may ease border restrictions and authorize more travel if they follow a set of criteria for vaccine certification which immigration officials can use to decide entry policies.
During an interview, Ong said the vaccination process could relax some border restrictions and allow more travel. He said, “That is really the light at the end of the long tunnel. With vaccination and vaccination certification, we can start to relax some border measures to allow some travel to start happening within the course of this year.”
Ong stated that he was not holding his breath or expecting for a rapid recovery of the aviation industry, but he expressed hopes that this year some countries may open their boundaries for travel as vaccination process has been rolled out in many countries and many people are vaccinated and that regions become healthy and immunized. He said that instead of a total recovery, this year it will be about seeking “a new norm” that supports travel.
The reports said that Singapore’s attempts to open its borders have been delayed, with a proposal, which allow business travelers to escape quarantine and remain in a dedicated facility near the airport, still not happening. The Connect@Singapore pilot program for businessmen and high-economic value tourists was due to begin in January, but the tourism board has still not decided where the visitors will stay.
In Singapore’s economy, the tourism and service sectors are key factors. By developing green lanes and unique travel plans with countries which has controlled the virus to a greater extent, such as New Zealand and Australia, the island-state is attempting hard to reopen its borders to allow travel. For three months beginning from February 1, Singapore has temporarily suspended reciprocal green lane agreements with Germany, Malaysia and South Korea, indicating the increase in cases of global viruses. The overall Covid-19 cases of Singapore is around 60,000 cases.
