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Singapore-China ‘travel bubble’ to open with swab tests, contact tracing and strict itineraries
- The arrangement for businesspeople and officials encompasses Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu, Zhejiang and the city state
- It will reduce lengthy quarantine times for businesspeople and officials, but require that they gain pre-approval and submit to multiple checks
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Within weeks, businesspeople and officials will be able to travel between Singapore and six Chinese regions without having to serve lengthy quarantines – so long as they submit to coronavirus swab tests before departure and on arrival, stick to itineraries they have submitted to authorities and use the host country’s contact tracing app.
Travellers will also need to have a sponsor – either a company or the host country’s government – and gain approval from authorities for a “SafeTravel Pass”.
The arrangement, which encompasses Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang as well as the city state, was announced at the weekend, with authorities giving further details on Wednesday about how it will work.
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Limits on the number of travellers allowed to move between the two countries will be imposed, although authorities have yet to announce any specific quotas. Prospective travellers from China who are sponsored by Singapore government agencies will be able to apply for the SafeTravel Pass from Monday, with applications being opened to those sponsored by companies at a later stage.
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At present, China and Singapore only allow those with residency to enter, and they have to serve a 14-day quarantine upon their arrival.
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