SEYCHELLES OPENS UP FOR TOURISTS BUT …
(Posted 15th January 2021)
REQUIRED FOR UNRESTRICTED ENTRY – BOTH VACCINATION DOSES RECEIVED AND A NEGATIVE PCR COVID19 TEST
Recognizing the importance of tourism for the archipelago’s economy has Seychelles, as first country in the world, now fully opened to tourism again, but with certain conditions.
As before the more recent requirement for a negative PCR test remains in place but tourist visitors will also have to produce a certificate of having received both doses of a vaccine before arrival. That will allow them to move freely across the islands without any quarantine requirements.
Both larger hotels and resorts but more so smaller Seychellois owned establishments such as B&B’s, self catering facilities, apartment rentals and smaller hotels have been hard hit by the lack of tourists, after the country experienced a 70 percent downturn in arrivals in 2020 – with the immediate forecast equally bleak.
The new entry requirements will change from mid March it was reported, when as many as 70 percent of the archipelago’s population will have received vaccinations, hopefully creating the anticipated ‘herd immunity‘ effect, while by mid year 100 percent of the vulnerable populations segments from 18 years upwards should have received vaccinations.
At that stage will visitors from abroad only require a negative PCR test for entry.
