It’s been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic started and the whole world ground to a halt. Now that the first quarter of 2021 is drawing to a close, more people are getting vaccinated every day. Thus, more of them are getting antsy about traveling the world again. After all, nothing would fuel people’s desire to travel like quarantine restrictions that lasted for months did for us. But before we could even consider booking a plane ride, we need to plan our trip properly first.
Fortunately, the World Economic Forum (WEF) formed a list of places that would thrive, tourism-speaking, in the post-pandemic world. One of them is Singapore. Because of Singapore’s robust, quick, and effective response to the pandemic, the country is considered among the safest countries to visit today. It would be a good thing, too, because Singapore certainly is competitive when it comes to tourism.
The city-state is rich in food culture, the arts, and overall city life. With its strong public transportation systems courtesy of SMRT and fascinating places such as Gardens by the Bay, it’s not surprising that the rest of the world is lining up for a chance to visit Singapore.
Here’s how you can travel safely and smoothly to Singapore today.
Monitor the COVID-19 Situation
As said before, Singapore is among the countries that had an effective response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The task force headed by the Minister of Health and the Minister of National Development invested many of its resources into a meticulous contact tracing system. This robust system led to the detection of 40 percent of COVID-19 cases in the country.
Apart from that, quarantine restrictions were strictly enforced for the good of the people. It also helped a lot that Singapore’s Biomedical Sciences Initiative was, years before the pandemic started, supported by the Singaporean government. Thus, this agency was more than equipped to develop testing kits and treatments for Singaporeans who contracted COVID-19.
But even with these impressive feats in COVID-19 response, it would still be much safer to monitor the COVID-19 situation in Singapore. This way, you can plan your trip properly and cancel accordingly should the cases rise in the country.
Know Who Are Prioritized for Entrance to Singapore
As hopeful visitors of Singapore, it’s not surprising that you aren’t prioritized for entering the country. Of course, the Singaporean government prioritizes its citizens first. But this doesn’t mean you won’t have a chance to visit anymore, not until the pandemic ends. Instead, what you can do is determine which category you fit it.
For example, you might be considered as long-term pass and in-principle approval (IPA) holders in Singapore. This means that you are either a long-term visitor, a student, or a worker with commitments to a business or institution in the country.
If you are a short-term visitor, you need to have the necessary documents that the Singaporean authorities will look for.
Gather All Necessary Documents
As a short-term visitor, you must secure a SafeTravel Pass, Air Travel pass, or a valid approval letter issued by the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). Apart from this pass, you will also need to secure a valid entry visa to Singapore.
Apart from these passes, you also need to have a COVID-19 test result memo from an internationally-accredited laboratory. This memo should clearly declare that you tested negative from COVID-19.
Another thing that the Singaporean authorities require is travel insurance with a coverage of at least SG$30,000. This insurance is set to cover medical treatment and hospitalization costs if you ever contract the coronavirus while visiting the city-state. Travel insurance can be issued by insurers in Singapore or overseas.
Stay Safe and Plan Your Trip Properly
At this point, it goes without saying that you need to wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when traveling to Singapore. You will also need to conduct social distancing strictly. This is to ensure your health safety and successful travel to Singapore. If you so much as cough or sneeze upon landing in Singapore, then your whole trip might be canceled.
If you are visiting family or friends in Singapore, it’s also important to ensure that they are safe from COVID-19. You might be able to enter Singapore successfully, but you might not be able to get back home if you’re not careful.
With the COVID-19 pandemic still going, it’s certainly difficult to quench our thirst for travel and adventure. But the good thing is that there are countries like Singapore that take COVID-19 restrictions very seriously. This way, we’ll be able to enjoy a fun adventure while remaining safe from the coronavirus.
