A long-delayed travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong is set to begin on May 26. The move aims to re-establish overseas travel links and lift the hurdle of quarantine for travellers.
READ ALSO: 138 Travelers Held for Violating Safety, Health Protocols – MIAA
The bubble between two of Asia’s biggest financial hubs was originally slated to begin last November but was suspended after a spike in coronavirus cases in Hong Kong.
SG-HK Travel Bubble to Start Next Month
According to Singapore’s Transport Minister Ong Ye Ku and Hong Kong’s Commerce Secretary Edward Yau, the scheme will start with one flight a day into each city, with up to 200 travellers on each flight, the Business World reported.
Those who want to travel from either city must test negative for COVID-19 before departure and on arrival. Hong Kong residents can also only fly to Singapore at least 14 days after they have had two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, travellers on the route – which attracted 15-20 flights a day each way pre-pandemic – won’t have to quarantine and there will be no restrictions on the purpose of travel.
The state representatives explained however that if the seven-day moving average of the daily number of unlinked local COVID-19 cases is more than five for either Singapore or Hong Kong the scheme will be suspended.
“The re-launch … signifies that gradual resumption of cross-border travel is achievable through mutual collaborations among different places,” said Yau.
In line with this, the two Asian countries are also in talks with places including New Zealand and Australia for similar travel bubbles. The Asian cities have brought the local virus situation largely under control compared with other developed cities.
READ NEXT: HK Still Places Arrivals from PH, Other ‘Very High-Risk’ Countries Under 21-day Quarantine