Seychelles reduces quarantine requirement for travelers vaccinated by Covid

Seychelles reduces quarantine requirement for travelers vaccinated by Covid

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(CNN) – Seychelles has reopened its borders and removed quarantine requirements for all travelers who have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Fully vaccinated visitors are now allowed to enter the country with 115 islands without having to be quarantined for 10 days, provided they have a negative PCR test result done within 72 hours prior to travel.

Travelers must also present an authentic certificate from their national health authority as proof that they have received both doses of the vaccine.

Located 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, Seychelles depend on tourism for around 65% of its GDP.

The authorities hope that the new measures will be a step in the right direction when it comes to reviving tourism on the island.

“We hope this will open up the tourism industry to local residents, especially for the small hotels that are struggling in La Digue, Praslin and also in Mahe. And it will also provide the boost that our economy desperately needs,” said the Minister of Tourism, Sylvestre Radegonde, during a press conference earlier this month.
Currently, unvaccinated visitors from the Seychelles category 1 and 2 list, as well as those arriving in private jets, can enter, provided they are isolated for 10 days and provide a negative PCR result obtained within 72 hours of arrival.

Main milestone

In addition, the island nation plans to have vaccinated more than 70% of its estimated population of 98,000 by mid-March.

If this objective is achieved, restrictions will be further relaxed and those allowed to enter the Seychelles will simply be required to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test done within 72 hours of travel.

Sybille Cardon, of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association, points out that employees are doing everything to ensure that tourists can safely return to Seychelles as soon as possible.

“If we look at other destinations, they are doing well – they have implemented relevant protocols, opened their borders and did everything necessary.

“It is very important to implement the right protocols, as tourists still want to come and spend their holidays in the Seychelles.”

Seychelles is not the first country to announce plans to abandon mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travelers.

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