The Seychelles are removing the quarantine requirement for travelers vaccinated with Covid

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(CNN) – The Seychelles have reopened their borders and dropped quarantine requirements for all travelers vaccinated against Covid-19.

Fully vaccinated visitors may now enter the 115 island nation without being quarantined for 10 days, provided they provide a negative PCR test result collected within 72 hours of travel.

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

The Seychelles, located 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, depend on tourism for about 65% of GDP.

Officials are hopeful that the new measures will prove to be a step in the right direction when it comes to reviving tourism on the island.

“We hope this will open the tourism industry to the locals, especially the small hotels struggling on La Digue, Praslin and also on Mahe. And also give the kick our economy badly needs,” said Tourism Minister. Sylvestre Radegonde at a press conference earlier this month.
Currently, unvaccinated visitors of the Seychelles Category 1 and 2 list, as well as those arriving by private jet, are allowed in as long as they isolate themselves for 10 days and give a negative PCR result taken within 72 hours. of arrival.

Important milestone

In addition, the island state aims to have more than 70% of its estimated 98,000 residents inoculated by mid-March.

If this goal is achieved, restrictions will be further relaxed and those entering Seychelles will simply have to provide evidence of a negative Covid-19 PCR test administered within 72 hours of travel.

Sybille Cardon of the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association emphasizes that officials are doing everything they can to ensure that tourists can return to the Seychelles safely as soon as possible.

“When we look at other destinations, they are doing well – they have established relevant protocols, opened their borders and done everything necessary.

“It is very important to put in place the correct protocols as tourists still want to spend holidays in the Seychelles.”

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

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