Travellers entering Maldives are no longer required to present a negative PCR on arrival as Vanuatu reveals its three phase border re-opening plan.
The updates to Maldives entry requirements means that those who are fully vaccinated also no longer have to do a PCR test when departing from the archipelago.
Vanuatu’s three phase plan is in preparation to allow international visitors back to the country in 2022.
In phase one Vanuatu aims to have 70 per cent of it’s population vaccinated and travellers aged 18 and over who are fully vaccinated will be able to enter the country, although they will have to complete 7 days of hotel quarantine in Port Vila upon arrival. Arrival caps will apply.
Phase two will be when 80 per cent of the nation are fully vaccinated. The international arrival cap will increase and fully vaccinated arrivals aged 12 and over will be able to enter the country.
Travellers will have to undergo 3 days of hotel quarantine in Port Vila and for 4 days following, they will only be able to travel within Efate.
Phase three will happen when the population hits 90 per cent vaccination. Vanuatu will open its border to all eligible travellers that are fully vaccinated (including booster) and there will be no quarantine requirements and no restrictions to movement.
Throughout each phase, visitors will have to undergo COVID testing and proof of COVID-appropriate travel insurance. Once in Vanuatu, travellers will have to check in to all venues, and many venues will require proof of vaccination.
A phased border reopening plan is a key step to restarting international travel, said the CEO of the Vanuatu Tourism Office, Adela Issachar Aru.
“Unveiling our border reopening plan is an extremely important event and signifies great news for our tourism industry,” said Issachar Aru.
“We’ve been keeping Vanuatu beautiful, and we’re so excited to start welcoming travellers back to our country. The Vanuatu Government is committed to planning a way forward to live with COVID as international travel restarts and this roadmap will help us do so in a way that’s safe for both our people and our visitors.”
Vanuatu has never experienced any COVID community transmission to date and has only identified 18 cases at the border.
