Seychelles reduces quarantine requirement for travelers vaccinated by Covid

Seychelles reduces quarantine requirement for travelers vaccinated by Covid

by

(CNN) – The Seychelles reopened its borders and abandoned quarantine requirements to all travelers vaccinated against Covid-19.

Fully vaccinated visitors may now enter the country of 115 islands without being quarantined for ten days, provided they show a negative result on the PCR test within 72 hours of the trip.

Travelers must also submit an authentic certificate from their national health authority as proof that they have received both doses of the vaccine.

The Seychelles, located 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, is about 65% of its GDP dependent on tourism.

Officials hope the new measures will be a step in the right direction when it comes to reviving tourism on the island.

“We hope it will open up the tourism industry to the local population, mainly to the small hotels struggling on La Digue, Praslin and also to Mahe. And also the kick that our economy desperately needs,” said Tourism Minister Sylvestre Radegonde. during a press conference earlier this month.
Currently, non-vaccinated visitors from the Category 1 and 2 list of the Seychelles, as well as those arriving by private plane, are allowed to enter as long as they isolate themselves for ten days and have a negative PCR result. delivers within 72 hours. of arrival.

Important milestone

In addition, the island nation aims to have more than 70% of the estimated 98,000 inhabitants vaccinated by mid-March.

If this goal is achieved, the restrictions will be further relaxed and those allowed to enter the Seychelles should simply provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.

Sybille Cardon of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association stresses that officials are doing everything possible to ensure that tourists can return to the Seychelles safely as soon as possible.

“If we look at other destinations, they are doing well – they have established appropriate protocols, opened their borders and done everything necessary.

“It’s really important to set up the right protocols, because tourists still want to come and holiday in Seychelles.”

The Seychelles is not the first country to announce plans to drop mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travelers.

.Source