On Friday, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) announced that tourists from Thailand and five other countries would be authorized to travel to the city-state without quarantine from next month.
Under the six new vaccinated travel lanes (VTLs), Singapore authorities will allow travelers from Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Fiji, Maldives and Turkey to visit some popular Singaporean destinations without forcing them to comply with a strict quarantine.
After the announcement, the total number of air VTLs increased to 27. The Singaporean government expects the new travel lanes will further expand Changi’s network, helping the country recover and cement itself as an international aviation hub with global connectivity.
According to the CAAS statement, Thais will be able to travel to Singapore from December 14. They can apply for vaccinated travel passes under the VTL starting December 7 at 10:00 a.m.
Visitors from the other five nations can enter the city-state starting December 16 and apply for their travel passes from December 9 at 10:00 a.m.
The CAAS said the six new VTLs’ launch would increase the daily quota of travelers authorized to visit Singapore from 10,000 to 15,000.
At a virtual briefing on Friday, Singapore’s Transport Minister S. Iswaran told reporters that the quota represents about a third of the total figures from the 27 countries recorded before the pandemic.
“This is a further calibrated expansion of the VTL scheme to reconnect Singapore with the world while managing the public health risk,” he said.
The VTL scheme allows fully vaccinated travelers to enter the city-state without complying with a week-long quarantine, as they only need to show a covid-19 negative test. Children aged 12 and under who are not vaccinated can also travel to Singapore without quarantine and without undergoing coronavirus testing.
The island nation has vaccinated 85% of its population. Since it kicked off its vaccinated travel lane program in September, authorities have allowed visitors from at least 20 countries to travel to Singapore.
It has now added Thailand, Maldives, Cambodia and Sri Lanka, which have also opened their borders to vaccinated travelers and are considered popular destinations for Singaporeans.
