Singapore considers freedoms for vaccinated travellers

Singapore has said it will consider relaxing curbs for vaccinated travellers, potentially from May. The government decision will depend on whether there is clear evidence that transmission risks can be lowered significantly by vaccines, making vaccinated travellers safe around everyone else. The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has announced a new initiative to reimagine travel for Singapore, and catalyse discussions on how to reshape global travel, and there is also evidence of a developing niche health tourism sector.

Singapore has largely banned travel and medical travel although it has official travel agreements with specific countries. Travellers from these countries can apply for an Air Travel Pass that allows visitors to enter Singapore without having to quarantine. Those who qualify for the Air Travel Pass are people who have spent 14 consecutive days in:

• Australia
• Brunei
• China
• New Zealand
• Taiwan
• Vietnam

All travellers including citizens and returning residents must take a PCR test, and download the TraceTogether app. Foreign travellers must have travel insurance that covers the cost of medical treatment, tests and isolation in case of suspected or actual infection of COVID-19 in Singapore.

Foreign travellers must also have travel medical insurance with minimum cover of SG$30,000 that covers the cost of medical treatment, tests and isolation in case of suspected or actual infection.

Singapore firms have developed digital health passports that can verify travellers’ COVID-19 test results, and are piloting their use. The passports allow clinics and hospitals to share healthcare data across borders in a secure manner.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has announced a new initiative to reimagine travel for Singapore and the rest of the world, by sparking conversations, stories and ideas to collectively shape the future. Called SingapoReimagine, the initiative will serve as an inclusive platform for the global and local tourism communities to share ideas on how to reset and revive tourism. STB has partnered with AirBnb, Experiences, Expedia, Klook, MasterCard, Trip.com and Visa.

SingapoReimagine launches with “Reimagine Travel – Global Conversations”, a series of forums around the world to catalyse discussions on how to reshape global travel.

STB is also launching “Reimagine Travel in Singapore”, a series of engagements with local community and tourism partners to co-create ideas and spur the renewal of Singapore tourism. This complements the SingapoRediscovers domestic campaign, which encourages locals to rediscover and reconnect with Singapore’s hidden gems and experiences.

Both initiatives will be launched in 2021, and more details will be announced in due course.

While Singapore may be expensive for mainstream medical tourism, it is developing niche sector domestic and international medical and health tourism.

New is Singapore’s first licensed confinement luxury hotel, Kai Suites, which offers pre- and post-partum care for mothers and their babies. Services include a three-month prenatal programme, a seven-day stay and a three-month postnatal programme that provides education, nourishment, nutrition and rejuvenation.

One Farrer Hotel & Spa is also working with the connecting Farrer Park Hospital to target medical travellers from Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh, who tend to be accompanied by family. The hotel has launched Farrer Concierge, a one-stop service that takes care of guest needs, from scheduling medical appointments to making tour and transport arrangements.