Singapore to allow quarantine free travel for 11 countries; India not included for now

The Singapore Government VTL scheme includes seven European countries – Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom, Germany – together with the United States and Canada. The only Asian country in the list is Brunei. China, India and Indonesia do not include so far. In addition, vaccinated tourists from South Korea will also be allowed to enter the country starting November 15, report Ani.

To take advantage of the VTL scheme, travelers must fly to Singapore in a flight designated VTL flown by Singapore Airlines or Lufthansa. The government will add other operators to the list over time. Singapore Airlines expanded VTL flight services to 14 cities, with more points on specific designated services to be announced in the coming weeks, the carrier said in a statement.

Tourists also need to bring evidence of their vaccination and undergo RT-PCR tests no more than 48 hours before their departure and also on their arrival at Singapore Changi Airport. Previously, travelers had to take four tests like that to get an entry.

This announcement came a few days after the push for Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to stay with Covid-19 without being paralyzed by fear. During the television address on Saturday, Loong said that the Delta variant had shown that Covid-19 did not go anywhere.

However, with vaccination, social distance steps and careful monitoring, will probably live with “new normal”. “It will take us at least three months, and maybe for six months, to get there,” he warned.

Loong justifies steps to continue connectivity with countries that report a stable number of Covid-19 cases confirm that the move will “make us stay connected with the global supply chain and help maintain the status of the Singapore hub”.