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 The relaxation contrasts with tightening lockdowns elsewhere,
notably in eastern Europe where infections have hit record numbers,
and in parts of China, which has taken a zero-tolerance approach to
the pandemic despite relatively few cases.
Hundreds of vaccinated foreign tourists arrived in the Thai capital
https://www.reuters.com/business/
aerospace-defense/bangkok-welcomes-first-tourists-quarantine-free-holiday-2021-11-01
for quarantine-free travel after the Southeast Asian nation approved
visitors from more than 60 countries, including China and the United
States.
Several European nations are also on the list as Thailand, one of
Asia's most popular destinations, looks to capitalise on northern
hemisphere visitors keen to escape the winter blues.
Those hopes appeared to pay off early, with German tourist Simon
Raithel and a group of friends among the first to arrive.
"Right now, in Europe, it's quite cold," said Raithel, 41, who
planned to head to islands in the Thai south. "We just picked this
flight and it is quite surprising that we are the first flight to
arrive."
In Sydney https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-eases-international-border-ban-first-time-since-march-2020-2021-10-31,
hundreds of citizens were greeted by family and friends as they
became the first to arrive from abroad without a permit or the need
to quarantine since April 2020.
"(It's a) little bit scary and exciting," said Ethan Carter, who
flew in from Los Angeles. "I've come home to see my mum 'cause she's
not well."
While travel is initially limited to just a few states and to
Australian citizens, permanent residents and their immediate
families and New Zealand nationals, it heralds a plan to re-open to
international tourists and workers, both much needed to reinvigorate
a fatigued nation.
Australia's announcement of quarantine-free travel for Singapore
citizens from Nov. 21 was a step forward to "a new normal", said
Philip Goh, the Asia-Pacific vice president of airline trade body
IATA.
"We are excited by this positive development and we look forward to
further easing of border restrictions by Australia and other
countries in the region," Goh said."
[to top of second column] |
 WE MISSED YOU GUYS'
Israel also relaxed travel rules on Monday but
tourists should read the fine print before
booking.
"Welcome to Israel," the government said in a
tweet next to a big blue heart. "We missed you
guys."
Individual tourists are allowed in if they have
received COVID-19 vaccine boosters - but not if
more than six months have lapsed since their
last dose, with some exceptions.
Members of tour groups are exempted from the six-month rule but will
have to take PCR or antigen tests every 72 hours for the first two
weeks of their stay.
Despite the eased curbs, world travel in full swing is a long way
off.
China's tourism sector is suffering from the country's zero
tolerance for COVID-19 as cities with infections, or even with
concerns about infections, close entertainment venues, restrict
travel or delay cultural events. Shanghai Disneyland stopped
admitting visitors on Monday.
The Russian capital brought in its strictest lockdown measures in
more than a year on Thursday as nationwide one-day pandemic deaths
and infections hit new highs. The Ukrainian capital of Kyiv has
tightened restrictions due to a spike in infections.
Eastern Europe as a whole is grappling with its worst outbreak since
the pandemic started.
Britain on Monday removed the last seven countries on its
coronavirus "red list", which required newly arrived travellers to
spend 10 days in hotel quarantine.
The United States will lift international travel restrictions for
fully vaccinated travellers on Nov. 8.
(Reporting by Jonathan Barrett, Jamie Freed, Rami Ayyub, Jill Gralow,
Jiraporn Kuhakan, Orathai Sriring and Artorn Pookasook; Writing by
Jane Wardell and Nick Macfie; Editing by Clarence Fernandez, Gareth
Jones and Mark Heinrich)
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