Southeast Asia Travel News | Update 28 April

Cebu Pacific to resume flights to Hanoi next month

Filipino budget carrier Cebu Pacific announced it would resume regular flights between Manila and Hanoi from next month.

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Vietnam records moderate inbound tourism recovery after reopening: Google

Vietnam has experienced a “moderate” recovery of inbound travel demand in March after the country eased travel restrictions, search volumes from Google reveals.

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Singapore removes most travel restrictions

Singapore’s Ministry of Health eased Covid-19 rules earlier this week, ending the restriction on group sizes and social distancing, a change welcomed by the events business.

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Malaysia to further ease Covid-19 rules from May 1

Malaysia will remove Covid-19 testing for all inbound travellers who are fully vaccinated or under the age of 12, and make it optional to wear masks outdoors and check in before entering premises, as it further eases pandemic measures from next month.
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The post Southeast Asia Travel News | Update 28 April first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.

No longer need for COVID-19 test to enter Singapore from Apr 26

With the latest easing of restrictions on people's movement in a COVID-19 environment, fully vaccinated and well travelers will no longer need to be tested for COVID-19 to enter Singapore. That is good news for your next Singapore tour!

1. For fully vaccinated travelers

All vaccinated travelers arriving in Singapore via air or sea checkpoints will no longer need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test as restrictions for controlling the spread of the coronavirus are eased.

According to the announcement of Singapore from July 1, all long-term pass holders aged 13 and above traveling to Singapore will have to be fully vaccinated. The exception is applied to people who are medically ineligible for vaccines.

This is a change from the present rule.  Now, long-term pass holders aged between 13 and 17 can travel to Singapore even if they are not fully vaccinated. With the latest easing of restrictions, fully vaccinated and well-travelers will no longer need to be tested for COVID-19 to enter Singapore.

To sum up, all vaccinated travelers and non-fully vaccinated children aged 12 and below arriving in Singapore via air or sea checkpoints will no longer need to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test, effective midnight Tuesday.

2. For non-fully vaccinated travelers

The entry requirements for travelers who are aged 13 and above and not fully vaccinated remain unchanged, reported TODAY newspaper quoting the MOH statement.

This means that travelers still have to take a pre-departure test within two days before leaving for Singapore, undergo a seven-day stay-home order, and take a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the end of the isolation period.

Such tests are also required for vaccinated travelers for now, until the new rules take effect.

3. Current tourism situation of Singapore

Singapore will be the first major economy in Asia to remove all restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers entering the island city as the government tries to restore the aviation and tourism industries that had been hit by the pandemic.

Air-passenger traffic reached 31% of pre-pandemic levels in the week ending April 17, up from 18% a month ago, according to the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore. The government aims to increase passenger traffic at Changi Airport to 50% of the level seen before the pandemic by later this year from 15% at the end of 2021, with almost S$500 million ($366 million) set aside to spur a revival in tourism.

“With these changes, we can now have a well-deserved breather after two very difficult years of fighting the virus,” Finance Minister and recently anointed prime minister-in-waiting Lawrence Wong said at the briefing. “Let’s always remember we are getting closer to the finish line, but the race is not over, and the pandemic is certainly not over.”

To help customers plan a Thailand tour that is more exciting and convenient, Lux Travel DMC would like to suggest some of our designed Singapore tours here.

Alternatively, you can feel free to contact us at sales@luxtraveldmc.com. It is our pleasure to consult you about beautiful travel destinations in the region.

The post No longer need for COVID-19 test to enter Singapore from Apr 26 first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.

Southeast Asia Travel News | Update April 24

The Philippines primed for recovery

The Philippines’ tourism industry can look forward to an annual average growth rate of 6.7% over the next 10 years, the World Travel & Tourism Council forecast during the opening of the WTTC Global Summit on Wednesday.
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Cambodia cuts quarantine for unvaccinated visitors to 7 days

Cambodia on Thursday reduced the required quarantine period from two weeks to one for arriving travelers who are not fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, acting after recording consistently low numbers of new infections in recent days.
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Thailand drops all pre and on-arrival testing, banks on a tourist surge after May 1

The CCSA has approved the biggest easing of entry requirements for fully vaccinated travelers (Thai and foreign) starting May 1, but awaiting official publication in the Royal Gazette, expected early next week.
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Singapore scraps Covid-19 tests, travel curbs for incoming vaccinated visitors

Singapore recently lifted most rules for fully vaccinated visitors and a requirement to wear masks outdoors. Other moves from April 26 include allowing all workers to return to the workplace and doing away with checking people’s vaccination statuses at most places
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Vietnam tourism recovery prospects dimmer than regional peers

Vietnam lags well behind several Southeast Asian peers in terms of tourism recovery prospects, according to the Travel-ready index 2022 released this week by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU).
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The post Southeast Asia Travel News | Update April 24 first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.

Thailand Plans to Implement Enter Requirement-Free from May 1

Being one of the strictest destinations in Southeast Asia after enacting some of the harshest border regimes during Covid-19, Thailand is finally easing travel rules once again. Having already reopened to tourism, the country is now planning to allow vaccinated tourists to enter requirement-free as soon as May 1, 2022.

1. Current situation

Currently, Thailand has 3 entry programs. Unvaccinated tourists must apply for an exemption to the entry ban and undergo state-observed quarantine upon arriving. Meanwhile, vaccinated tourists can apply for the facilitated Test & Go or Sandbox schemes, which we have detailed here.

The country has already released a timeline for the easing of entry restrictions and allowed vaccinated foreigners entry. However, international visitors must still apply for a Thailand Pass under one of the schemes above and satisfy other border requirements.

However, come May, Thailand may remove these requirements altogether.

Thailand tours

2. Thailand Pass Could Be Scrapped As Soon As May

According to Mr. Ratchakitprakarn, he will propose an end to all these extra requirements vaccinated visitors must meet once Thailand’s Covid-19 management team meets again on April 22.

Should the Minister manage to convince the others, they could enact the change as soon as May 1. That allows fully immunized tourists to enter Thailand freely for the first time since the crisis started.

To bypass restrictions, all foreigners would need to present a valid vaccination certificate. As of April 2022, the travelers have to receive a full vaccination dose once 14 days have passed since the completion of a primary vaccination course, and no more than 12 months before the date of arrival. Having proof of a booster shot will extend the certificate’s validity.

In general, the following documents are necessary when applying for entry under the Test & Go program:

1. A valid vaccination certificate
2. Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of U$20,000
3. The Thailand Pass
4. Confirmation of at least 1 night of paid accommodation in an approved hotel
5. Confirmation of a prepaid RT-PCR and Rapid Antigen tests on arrival

That means vaccinated arrivals no longer face a pre-departure testing requirement.

3. More Restrictions Could Be Dropped As Covid-19 Situation Improves

Thailand estimates at least 10 million tourist arrivals for the ongoing season. The Tourism Minister stated that income from tourism-related activities is markedly important for Thailand. Furthermore, he concluded by saying ‘Thailand is ready to welcome back foreign visitors because we adequately equipped our public health system”.

Covid-19 cases decrease across Thailand. The cases fall by more than 4,000 over the previous 3 weeks. That is for only 16% of the peak. Therefore, we expect this surprising destination to relax its curbs even further.

To help customers plan a Thailand tour that is more exciting and convenient, Lux Travel DMC would like to suggest some of our designed Southeast Asia tours here.

Alternatively, you can feel free to contact us at sales@luxtraveldmc.com. It is our pleasure to consult you about beautiful travel destinations in the region.

The post Thailand Plans to Implement Enter Requirement-Free from May 1 first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.

Southeast Asia Travel News | Update April 21

Manila tops the Hot Spot list for Southeast Asia

Manila, Philippines, is the top hot spot in Southeast Asia according to booking trends monitored by Travelport during the first quarter of the year.
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Vietjet to launch more direct flights to India

Budget airline Vietjet Air has announced plans to resume flights to India’s New Delhi soon and launch new services from Hanoi, HCMC and Phu Quoc this year.
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Indonesia plans to triple the price of visa on arrival and Bali businesses are not for it

For around two years since the COVID-19 outbreak occurred, Bali’s tourism practically became dormant. Now that the island is starting to receive a flow of international visitors, several local outlets are reporting about plans to increase the fee for the visa on arrival (VOA) entry by threefold.
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Thailand Plans To Allow Vaccinated Tourists To Enter Requirement-Free From May 1

Having earned its reputation as one of the strictest destinations in Southeast Asia after enacting some of the harshest border regimes during Covid, Thailand is finally easing travel rules once again.
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All travellers required to take a Covid test on arrival in Laos

Health authorities say that everyone entering Laos at Wattay International Airport must take a Covid test, meaning they must have a PCR test within 24 hours of departure for Laos as well as an RDT (Rapid Diagnostic Test) on arrival in Vientiane.
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The post Southeast Asia Travel News | Update April 21 first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.

Southeast Asia Travel News | Update April 20

Myanmar starts reopening phase
Myanmar makes the first moves to reopen international commercial flights at Yangon Internation Airport this week, according to a press statement released by Myanmar Tourism Marketing, a privately funded not-for-profit organization.

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Thai AirAsia flies to Bali
Thai AirAsia revived flights to Bali Ngurah Rai Airport, last week carrying 128 passengers on the inaugural after a two-year pause.
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Vietjet to launch more direct flights to India

Budget airline Vietjet Air has announced plans to resume flights to India’s New Delhi soon and launch new services from Hanoi, HCMC, and Phu Quoc this year.
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US CDC lifts Covid ‘Do Not Travel’ recommendations on Vietnam, 89 other countries

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Monday it had dropped its “Do Not Travel” Covid-19 recommendations for about 90 international destinations including Vietnam.
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The post Southeast Asia Travel News | Update April 20 first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.

Lux Travel DMC Happily Welcome the Firsts Foreign Visitors After Reopening

Since the official decision of the Government of Vietnam on reopening tourism on March 15, we have had the opportunity to welcome the first international tourists to explore and experience the holiday in Vietnam.

Not only travel agencies, but international tourists are also extremely excited to come to Vietnam after nearly 2 years closed due to Covid-19. Emotional stories are shared by both tourists and tourism workers.

That’s the story of the old tour guide who specialized in serving German tourists. He arrived in our office earlier and prepared well for meeting the first customers. He cried tears of joy to greet the first visitors to Vietnam at the airport.

We feel moved by the story of the Couple Ronja and Marc from Germany. They got married last August. These guests go on the honeymoon tour Vietnam – Cambodia honeymoon tour for 28 days with us. When entering Vietnam, they just need to fill in the medical declaration form without testing for Covid-19. All the procedure is very simple and smooth. Therefore, we can see that Vietnam is one of the countries that have the easiest entry requirements in Southeast Asia. They shared that “We love to travel and have dreamed of traveling around the world for a long time. We’ve been on vacation for 6 months for our honeymoon and have been traveling around the world since November. It hasn’t always been easy because of Covid-19, but we still decided to do the trip last year. We are pleased to hear that Vietnam will reopen to tourists in March. We wanted to travel to Asia much sooner. This is our first time visiting Vietnam. Vietnam is also the final destination on our itinerary. We feel happy to be able to spend good times in this wonderful country”.

Lux Travel DMC’s customer

Another story is about Ms. Annina Krüsi and his husband from Germany. She booked a 21-day Vietnam tour. She said, “I had planned to go to Vietnam since 2020, but I could not travel due to Covid. As soon as the news that Vietnam opened in March together with the entry policy was simple, I decided to go to Vietnam. I booked at the last minute 1 week in advance on March 28, 2022’. Indeed, this is the trip she has been waiting for for a long time, so it is so exciting to do it.

 

Lux Travel DMC’s customer

The next story is shared by Ms. Raquel Canal Sala from Spain. “ I had postponed the Vietnam tour for nearly 2 years because of the Covid-19 pandemic. So when hearing the news that Vietnam was reopening, I wanted to visit it immediately”. She and her family, including 4 people, booked a 9-day Vietnam tour. They visited a lot of attractions from the South to the North and used Luxury services completely.

Lux Travel DMC’s customer

In addition, another Singaporean couple came to Vietnam for the 6th time and chose Vietnam to experience right after Vietnam opened for tourism. “The scenery of Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay is like appearing in a movie,” said the couple.

Lux Travel DMC’s customer

There are still many stories hiding after the wonderful holidays post the Covid-19 we have not told here. Since Vietnam and most of the countries in Southeast Asia have already reopened in March, travelers from over the world now can easily plan their trips to Southeast Asia without having any worries. Being as the people who work in tourism, we now can continue our mission to help travelers to complete their dreams of the amazing holidays in Southeast Asia.

The post Lux Travel DMC Happily Welcome the Firsts Foreign Visitors After Reopening first appeared on Lux Travel DMC's Blog.