Encouraged by a "generally optimistic" domestic tourism climate, the
Philippines will be opening up to foreign travellers starting 10
February, who can also skip quarantine after showing proof of full
vaccination.
Travellers will also need to show a negative result for Covid-19 test
taken 48 hours prior to entry into the Philippines in order to skip
quarantine on arrival.
The Philippines had planned to welcome tourists back on 1 December
2021, but that was postponed after the Omicron variant of the
coronavirus emerged.
“The current tourism scenario is looking generally optimistic,” said
Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat in a 15 January Manila Bulletin
report, referencing the country's uptick in domestic travellers ever
since tourism restarted September 2021.
"We are also aware that there is no room for complacency given the
unpredictability of the virus. We will closely monitor the situation and
ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all
tourism establishments,” added Puyat.
The Department of Tourism also highlighted the Philippines' active
stance towards vaccinating tourism frontliners, where most regions
already report more than 90% vaccination rates for their active and
eligible tourism workers. Booster shots were also recently administered
in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Boracay Island, followed next
by Baguio City and Davao.
Officials who made the announcement on 28 January 2022 said the new
quarantine-free travel arrangement is applicable to travellers from the
157 destinations which already enjoy visa-free entry to the Philippines
prior to the pandemic.
These designations include Manila's top 10 markets, including Australia, Britain, Canada, Japan, US and South Korea.
However, India is noticeably out of the list, as are Covid-zero destinations China and Taiwan.
Unvaccinated travellers will be banned from entering starting 16 February.