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Singapore is looking to allow quarantine-free travel by September

July 26, 2021
•
2 min read
Singapore city skyline at sunset
Singapore is looking to allow quarantine-free travel by September
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Singapore is planning to open its borders for international tourism later this year. The country said on Monday that it's hoping to allow a quarantine-free travel option for fully vaccinated travelers as of September 2021.

By September, the government hopes that 80% of the city-state's population will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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However, it doesn't seem as though the nation will open up to all fully vaccinated tourists from September. The government said that instead, it will establish travel corridors with countries or regions where it deems COVID-19 is under control, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong said.

Related: Are you fully vaccinated? Here’s what travel looks like for you right now

Wong said that the nation will review a final decision on whether it will loosen travel policies in early August.

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"The easing will be differentiated and extended to only vaccinated persons, because they are much better protected against the effects of the virus," Wong said. "If you want to go out to dine in the restaurant or workout in the gym, you have to be fully vaccinated."

According to Reuters, nearly 75% of Singapore's residents have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.

Last week, the city-state instituted new coronavirus-related restrictions amidst a rise in cases around the island. As part of the measures, the government reintroduced a ban on indoor dining and limited the maximum number of people allowed to gather from five to two.

For the duration of the pandemic, Singapore has largely kept its borders locked down to tourism. At multiple points, there were rumblings that the city-state would open a travel bubble with Hong Kong. However, rises in cases of COVID-19 in Singapore and Hong Kong at multiple points have pushed those plans back.

Travelers may want to hold off on booking a trip to Singapore straight away. While Monday's announcement is promising news for the future of tourism in the country, it remains unclear if fully vaccinated Americans will be among those allowed in for quarantine-free travel if the September plans go ahead.

And, like with most travel restrictions during the pandemic, it's likely that policies may change at a moment's notice.

Featured image by Getty Images
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

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  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
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  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
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  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
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