(CNN) — The Seychelles has reopened its borders and dropped quarantine requirements to all travelers who’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Fully-vaccinated visitors are now permitted to enter the 115-island nation without having to quarantine for 10 days provided they present a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of travel.
Travelers must also submit an authentic certificate from their national health authority as evidence they’ve received both doses of the vaccine.
Located 1,600 kilometers off the coast of Tanzania, the Seychelles depends on tourism for around 65% of its GDP.
Officials are hopeful the new measures will prove to be a step in the right direction when it comes to reviving tourism on the island nation.
Major milestone
In addition, the island nation aims to have vaccinated over 70% of its estimated 98,000 population by mid-March.
If this goal is achieved, restrictions will be further relaxed and those who are permitted to enter the Seychelles will simply be required to present proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.
Sybille Cardon from the Seychelles Hospitality and Tourism Association stresses that officials are pulling out all the stops to ensure that tourists can safely return to the Seychelles as soon as possible.
“If we look at other destinations, they are doing well — they have put in place relevant protocols, have opened their borders, and have done all the necessary.
“It is really important to put in place the right protocols as tourists still want to come and spend a holiday in Seychelles.”
The Seychelles isn’t the first country to announce plans to ditch mandatory quarantine for vaccinated travelers.
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