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BEIJING / SYDNEY – Travelers in China fell silent in their response to Singapore’s lifting of travel restrictions, with many citing the need for a two-week quarantine upon return as the main drawback.
Starting next Friday, travelers from Victoria, Australia and China with negative tests for Covid-19 will be able to enter Singapore without the need for a quarantine.
But this has not been reciprocated by Canberra and Beijing, which still keep their borders closed with certain exceptions.
China closed its borders to all foreigners on March 28, including those on long-term visas.
Controls were gradually relaxed starting in late April, when it announced a “fast-track” agreement with South Korea, allowing free quarantine travel in urgent and essential cases. A similar deal was announced with Singapore on May 28.
As of September 28, this was further relaxed to allow foreigners with work visas, personal affairs, and family reunions to re-enter the country. But all arrivals would have to undergo a 14-day quarantine at a government facility under his charge.
For media executive Bao Hongguang, it would be a good opportunity, if the Singapore move came earlier, to visit his 17-year-old daughter who attends a high school in Singapore.
His visit plan was rescheduled three times due to the pandemic, and he has now written it for March next year.
“Relaxing quarantine measures would have been helpful, but my daughter is finishing her O levels this week and will be back in November so it doesn’t make sense. It’s the same for my other friends with children in Singapore,” he said. said on Thursday (October 29).
“Even if it was, I’d have to quarantine myself when I get back, and I don’t have that much free time.”
According to a study commissioned by the Singapore Tourism Board in June, Chinese travelers prioritize no quarantine upon return, availability of treatment and vaccines, and no new cases in their destination country as criteria for travel.
Others, like Singaporean businessman Ric Koh, said the new measures don’t make much of a difference to them. The founder of a Shenzhen-based electronics manufacturing company said he could always return to Singapore, but had been held back because paperwork for the subsequent return to China is “complicated.”
“I wouldn’t mind getting nucleic acid tests every day, or even taking the vaccine at an experimental stage so that I can travel freely for work,” Koh added.
Meanwhile, Australia has also failed to reciprocate Singapore’s easing of travel restrictions and continues to bar entry to non-citizens and non-residents.
Almost all international arrivals to Australia must undergo 14 days of quarantine, usually at the expense of the traveler. And Australians are prohibited from traveling abroad unless they get an exemption from the federal government.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said the government is considering creating travel bubbles with Singapore, South Korea, Japan and the Pacific island nations.
So far Australia’s only travel bubble is with New Zealand. Even then, only a few Australian regions have agreed to be part of it.
Singapore’s decision to accept travelers from Victoria could increase pressure on Australian states and territories that have yet to open their own doors to Victorian visitors. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said Thursday that she will consider opening the border with Victoria in the coming weeks, after it became clear that Victoria’s easing of restrictions will not lead to more cases.
The Victorian government could not be reached for comment last night on Singapore’s decision.
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