Coronavirus: Taiwan tourism sector braces as entry restrictions imposed on Hong Kong, Macau
- Self-ruled island will suspend online visitor permit service and entry permits on arrival for people travelling from the two cities
- Move to curb spread of virus is another blow to an already struggling industry
From Friday, the self-ruled island will suspend its online visitor permit service and entry permits on arrival for people travelling from Hong Kong and Macau.
Hong Kong and Macau residents can still apply to Taiwan’s representative offices in the two cities for entry permits if they have an urgent need to visit the island, but they must provide proof that they have not travelled to the mainland in the previous 14 days, and will be required to stay in home or hotel quarantine for 14 days after arriving, the council said.
The announcement came as Taiwan’s Tourism Bureau also barred local travel agencies from organising tours to the two cities, effective immediately until the end of this month.
Taiwan reported three new cases of the coronavirus on Thursday night, bringing the total to 16. A retired couple, both aged 50, contracted the virus on a trip to Italy via Hong Kong in late January and developed symptoms after returning to Taiwan this month, according to Health Minister Chen Shih-Chung. A 40-year-old woman also tested positive after she returned from a trip to Macau from January 21 to 24, he said.