Covid-19: Philippines to reopen in February to vaccinated foreign tourists

The country had planned to reopen in December 2021 but was thwarted by concerns over the Omicron variant

By Reuters

Published: Fri 28 Jan 2022, 11:28 AM

Last updated: Fri 28 Jan 2022, 12:03 PM

The Philippines will grant entry to visitors vaccinated against Covid-19 from February 10, its government said on Friday, in an effort to boost a tourism sector decimated by the pandemic.

The archipelago nation of more than 7,000 islands had planned to reopen in December, but that was aborted over concerns about the Omicron variant.

Advertising

Citizens of 150 countries that have visa-free entry to the Philippines will be allowed to enter.

“(This) will contribute significantly to job restoration, primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses that have earlier shut down,” Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat said in a statement.

ALSO READ:

Philippines' presidential hopefuls tout post-pandemic recovery plans

Valentine’s Day: UAE airlines offer holiday packages starting from Dh1,199

Puyat also said the government will remove quarantine requirements for returning Filipinos from February 1, and for foreign tourists from February 10, but they must be vaccinated and test negative for Covid-19.

The Philippines, popular for its white sand beaches and rich marine life, joins other Southeast Asian countries in reopening to tourists to boost jobs and help their economies recover.

Tourist arrivals in the Philippines from top markets Japan, South Korea and China slumped 83% drop to 1.4 million last year.