The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that it is hopeful that the eased travel restrictions will increase the number of travelers to the Philippines.
According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, the lifting of the negative RT-PCR requirement for arriving passengers who have received their full primary series of Covid-19 vaccine and at least one booster shot will encourage more travelers to visit the country.
Also lifted was the travel insurance requirement for arriving passengers. However, while not required, health authorities said that it remains highly recommended.
“With this development, travel will be easier in the new normal,” said Morente. “We hope that this will boost the number of international arrivals in the next few months,” he added.
Morente shared that during the summer season, the BI recorded around 15,000 total arrivals per day. “The arrivals have steadily increased since February, but has plateaued at the tail end of summer,” he reported.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-MEID) has earlier advised that effective May 30, fully vaccinated foreign nationals with booster shot are exempted from the negative RT-PCR test requirement.
Eased travel restrictions to encourage more travelers, to lift plateau of arrivals
Also exempted are fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17, and those aged below 12, regardless of vaccination status.
“We are hoping that little by little, the country’s international tourism sector can once again flourish as we move towards the new normal,” said Morente.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) announced Friday that all fully-vaccinated inbound tourists no longer need to submit a pre-departure COVID-19 negative test upon arrival in the Philippines.
The Inter-Agency Task Force for COVID-19 response has previously approved the removal of the travel requirement, according to the DOT.
All travelers aged 18 and up, who are fully vaccinated or have gotten a booster injection, shall be excluded from the mandatory negative test proof under Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution 168.
Exemptions also apply to travelers aged 12 to 17 who have had their primary COVID-19 immunizations and children under the age of 12 traveling with fully vaccinated parents or guardians.
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