Tourist hotspot Seychelles is welcoming back US travelers – but only those with the COVID-19 vaccine
- The Seychelles is allowing visitors with the COVID-19 vaccine to visit the country.
- Travelers from its list of approved countries, or people flying in via private aircrafts, are also allowed.
- Tourism-depednent countries around the world are desperately looking for ways to increase travel in 2021.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Seychelles is reopening its borders to visitors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to jumpstart tourism this year.
Seychelles’ updated travel guidelines were announced shortly after the archipelagic country unveiled its “immunization campaign,” which includes vaccinating almost 70% of local adults by mid-March. It’s the first country in Africa to roll out a vaccination program and hopes to become the first country in the world to vaccinate the majority of its adult population, according to a news release from January 11.
On the heels of this mass vaccination announcement, Seychelles’ updated its travel protocols to now welcome travelers who have received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. In order to visit, the vaccinated travelers must wait two weeks after receiving the last dose and are required to provide proof of the vaccination from their home country’s health authorities.
However, visitors with the vaccine are still required to show a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of boarding the flight.
For those who aren’t yet vaccinated, visitors flying in from Seychelles’ list of permitted category one and two countries – or travelers taking a private jet – will have to show a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before traveling.
Video: The Seychelles Is Opening to Fully Vaccinated Travelers (Travel + Leisure)
Explore the Sistine Chapel From Home on a Virtual Tour With the Vatican Museums
Travel + Leisure
Lufthansa Is Operating Its Longest Flight Ever Next Month
Travel + Leisure
The Secrets to Gaining an Influencer-Size Following on Instagram
Travel + Leisure
Biden Lifts Controversial Travel Ban on Muslim Majority Countries
Travel + Leisure
This Cruise Line for Passengers Age 50+ Will Be the First to Require COVID-19 Vaccines
Travel + Leisure
KLM Halts Long-haul Flights Due to New COVID-19 Testing Rule in the Netherlands
Travel + Leisure
Sri Lanka Reopens Airports and Borders With New COVID-19 Testing Requirements
Travel + Leisure
Everything You Need to Know Before Traveling to Mexico During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Travel + Leisure
Sleep Under the Stars, Ride an ATV, and More, Thanks to This Tour Company's Incredible New
Travel + Leisure
This Colorful Island Was Just Named Italy's Next Capital of Culture
Travel + Leisure
Backyard Ice Rinks Are Now a Thing — Here Are the Best Ones to Shop
Travel + Leisure
Singapore Will Require COVID-19 Tests for All Inbound Travel
Travel + Leisure
The Seychelles Is Opening to Fully Vaccinated Travelers
Travel + Leisure
Etihad, Emirates Launch Health Passport With International Air Transport Association
Travel + Leisure
Spirit Airlines Passengers Injure 2 Gate Agents, 1 Hospitalized in Dispute Over Carry-On A
Travel + Leisure
Casetify's New Collection Will Bring the Magic Of Disney Right to Your Phone, Apple Watch,
Travel + Leisure
Explore the Sistine Chapel From Home on a Virtual Tour With the Vatican Museums
These virtual tours include areas that are usually off-limits to the public.
Travel + Leisure
Lufthansa Is Operating Its Longest Flight Ever Next Month
The flight will carry researchers to the Falkland Islands from Hamburg.
Travel + Leisure
The Secrets to Gaining an Influencer-Size Following on Instagram
Whether you want to become an influencer or just up your 'gram game, here are tips and tricks for how to get famous on Instagram.
Travel + Leisure
If you’re a visitor who isn’t taking a private jet or coming in from one of the approved countries, you’ll have to wait a bit longer until the majority of adults in Seychelles are vaccinated. By then, mid-March as projected, the country will allow all travelers to enter, so long as they’ve tested negative within 72 hours.
Read more: The CEO of Dubai Duty Free, the largest airport retail operation in the world, expects business to return to normal by 2023
On November 23, the US issued a Level Two advisory for Seychelles, telling travelers to “exercise increased caution.” However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified the Seychelle under its highest Level Four category for COVID-19 and recommends avoiding travel to the country.
Inversely, the US is not mentioned under Seychelles’ category one or two lists of approved countries, which means the country is not currently accepting US visitors.
Presently, many countries – officially including the US on Tuesday – are allowing international travelers from select countries to enter so long as they’ve presented a negative COVID-19 test result. Looking ahead, Seychelles’ decision to allow vaccinated travelers could be one of many as talks of “vaccine passports” for global travelers continue around the world.
Several countries around the world have been looking for innovative ways to safely bring back tourists in 2021 after international travel was put on hold throughout 2020. Bermuda, for example, is asking travelers to present a negative PCR coronavirus test within five days of arriving on the island.
Other countries have taken a different approach by enticing business and work-related travelers. For example, tropical hotspots like Aruba have set up programs intended reel in the “work from anywhere” crowd, while Singapore is currently creating a luxury ‘four-star’ bubble hotel specifically for business travel.
Are you a travel industry employee or have a travel industry story to share? Contact this reporter at [email protected].
Source: Read Full Article
