Taiwan-Palau travel bubble to open on 1 April

Courtesy of ICRT

Taiwan’s Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) says a much-anticipated travel bubble between Taiwan and Palau will open on 1 April, becoming the first of its kind in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, to take advantage of the programme, visitors must travel with their tour groups throughout their entire stay in Palau, while their itineraries will be capped at eight days.

Tourists will only be able to stay in hotels that adhere to coronavirus control measures approved by health authorities in Palau, will only be able to dine in specific areas and will have to maintain social distancing during their meals.

On returning to Taiwan, travellers will not need to have another PCR test, as is required for other inbound tourists.

However, they will need to practice “enhanced” self-health management for the first five days, remain isolated from family members except for those they travelled with and will not be allowed to use public transport or visit crowded places.

Deputy Transport Minister Qi Wen-chong says two round-trip flights will be offered per week initially via China Airlines, but the number of passengers will be capped at 110 per flight.

Health minister Chen Shih-chung said that the travel bubble could be expanded in the future to include other countries, though he noted that very few are as safe from the pandemic as Palau. He added that if other countries are added, travellers from there may be subject to different quarantine and inspection procedures than in the Palau bubble.