As it continues to relax the limitations put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, Taiwan announced on Monday that travellers from nations including the United States and Canada will once again be able to enter without a visa starting the following week.
Although it reduced the number of days spent in isolation for new immigrants from seven to three in June, Taiwan had maintained its entrance and quarantine regulations while much of the rest of Asia had relaxed or eliminated them.
Since the start of the year, Taiwan has reported more than 5.3 million domestic cases, primarily due to the more contagious Omicron strain. However, the government has loosened rather than tightened limits in what it refers to as the “new Taiwan model” because more than 99% of those had no or minor symptoms.
The Central Epidemic Command Center in Taiwan announced that beginning on Monday, visitors from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and diplomatic partners will once again be able to enter the country without a visa.
The choice was made in light of the fact that the majority of nations have already reinstated pre-pandemic border controls and opened their borders, as well as the necessity to strike a balance between epidemic protection, social and economic activities, and international trade.
The present cap on 50,000 arrivals each week, the three-day quarantine requirement, and the requirement for a PCR test upon arrival, according to Command Center Chief Victor Wang, will all stay in place for the time being.
The requirement for pre-departure negative PCR tests has already been eliminated in Taiwan, where the population is highly immunised.
Taiwanese nationals and foreign residents have had to quarantine at home or in hotels during the pandemic, although this has never prevented them from leaving and then returning.
Prior to the epidemic, Taiwan was a well-liked travel destination for primarily Asian tourists, with the key markets being Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Japan.
