Singapore Further Eases Vaccinated Travel Arrangements

Singapore’s Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong announced further relaxation of Singapore's COVID-19 measures in a national address on Thursday, 24 March morning. As a part of the easing of Covid-related restrictions, a new travel scheme named the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) will replace the existing Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme. With effect from 1 April 2022, fully vaccinated travellers can take any flight to Singapore to enjoy quarantine-free visits. They will no longer be required to take only designated VTL flights to enter Singapore. They will also not be required to take any on-arrival covid-19 tests. The current requirement to take a Covid-19 antigen rapid test (ART) within 24 hours of arrival will cease.

Maximum size for social gatherings in Singapore will be doubled from the current 5 to 10 with effect from 29 March 2022. This means dining in groups can be seated at the same table of up to 10 persons. While the wearing of masks indoors will remain mandatory, Singapore is removing that requirement for outdoors. The wearing of masks outdoors will be made optional. The lifestyle and entertainment enthusiasts will be happy to note that the current restrictions on F&B establishments on the sale and consumption of alcohol after 10.30pm will be lifted. Live performances will also be allowed to resume at all venues. Mr Lee also announced that Singapore will “drastically” streamline testing and quarantine requirements for travellers and allow people to travel abroad more easily.

The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) had sustained its consumer and trade outreach efforts in India even during the pandemic period. Recently, it has stepped up its engagement activities. The SingapoReimagine reopening campaign was launched on 14 March 2022. The campaign seeks to reignite STB’s audiences’ passion for travel through fresh and innovative experiences in Singapore. STB India partnered St+art India Foundation (St+art) to create a large-scale outdoor, art installation in Chennai titled “Dreams from the Futures” (“Ethirkaalak Kanavugal” in Tamil), a cross-culture artistic collaboration between Singapore-based artist Ms Tina Fung and Indian artist Ms Osheen Siva. On the trade engagement front, under the theme of ‘Charting our Pathways to Tourism Recovery, Together!’, STB participated in OTM Mumbai from 14 to 16 March and has organised trade networking sessions in Chennai on 18 March and Kolkata on 22 March. More outreach initiatives are being planned in different Indian cities, together with airline, Singapore tourism stakeholders and Indian travel agent partners.

Mr. GB Srithar, Regional Director, IMESA (India, Middle East & South Asia), Singapore Tourism Board, said, “The easing of travel restrictions under the Vaccinated Travel Framework (VTF) with effect from 1 April 2022 comes at an opportune time for our audiences in India. The start of the peak summer family travel season, with commencement of school holidays, is just around the corner. Fully vaccinated Indian travelers will be able to pick from any of the available flight options to plan their holidays or visits to Singapore. Families with unvaccinated children below 12 accompanied by an adult can travel to Singapore with requisite pre-departure tests. Relaxation of guidelines that now permit F&B establishments to stay open beyond 10.30pm and no curbs on live performances also serve to attract young adults to explore Singapore’s new and reimagined tourism offerings. Singapore is a destination of choice for our Indian audiences. STB and our tourism stakeholders look forward to welcoming back Indian families, young adults and holiday-makers to live up their passions in Singapore.”

India is a key source market for Singapore – the third-largest in 2019. Even as the pandemic halted international travel for close to 18 months, STB India continued to build destination affinity with Indian consumers through innovative marketing - such as an art collaboration between acclaimed Indian Gond artist Bhajju Shyam and Singaporean artist Sam Lo titled ‘Dancing In Unison’ to highlight the art and cultural heritage of both countries, curating the Chhota Bheem animated series to take younger audiences on a virtual trip of the destination as well as giving them a taste of Singapore’s diverse cuisine through a month-long collaboration with Foodhall India in celebration of the Singapore Food Festival 2021.