The Latest News for Travel Agents

The popular Thai island of Phuket will start welcoming vaccinated travelers in July, according to reports, months earlier than initially expected. Travelers who have been fully vaccinated will not have to undergo a quarantine to visit the beach destination after the country's coronavirus task force on Friday gave them the all-clear to start welcoming tourists this summer, Reuters reported Friday. By then, the island plans to have inoculated 70% of its residents.

The French side of St Martin is now officially open for tourism, Caribbean Journal has confirmed. The destination quietly reopened to both European and non-European tourists, including those from the United States. “You will be hosted in completely safe conditions in the various accommodations on the French side of St Martin,” St Martin’s tourism agency said in a statement. “They are ready and waiting for you — you have been missed.” St Martin

The Maldives reopened its borders in July 2020 with testing requirements for visitors and enhanced health and safety protocols in place across the country's nearly 1,200 islands. Situated in the Arabian Sea in the northern Indian Ocean a few hundred miles southwest of India and Sri Lanka, the Maldives has something to offer everyone seeking a quintessential vacation after a challenging year, including relaxation, romance and plenty of adventure. But before you visit, there are some things you need to know.

Mandatory hotel quarantine is now in place for all travellers arriving into the Republic of Ireland from 33 countries deemed "high risk" for Covid-19 transmission. Passengers must book and pay for a 12-night stay from a selection of dedicated hotels across the country. The time could be reduced if someone receives a negative Covid-19 test on day 10 of quarantine.

Nepal on Thursday enforced new travel rules removing the quarantine requirements for foreign tourists who have got both doses of Covid-19 vaccine, in an attempt to give a boost to pandemic-depressed travel and tourism business.

Australia is officially extending its international travel ban for three more months. Australia's government announced Tuesday that it is extending the travel ban through June 17, 2021. The initial ban had been set to expire on March 17, however, the government noted fear that the rest of the world "continues to pose an unacceptable public health risk" to its borders, Australia's 7 News reported.

Ecuador is a destination that has it all – mountains, jungles, beaches, busy cities, untouched nature, and everything in between. Ecuador’s low cost of visiting and hugely diverse tourism industry has seen the nation growing in popularity over the last few years. During the pandemic, those wishing to escape south have been looking towards Ecuador for their easier to fulfill entry requirements than many other countries in the region.

It’s being reported that Panama’s government has relaxed arrival procedures for vaccinated travelers coming into the country. Although the country’s borders have been open with conditions, those with ‘the complete vaccine’ will not have to undergo a swab test on arrival. Instead, arrivals will need to present proof of vaccination. Other sources note that a negative COVID-19 test is required for entry.

Costa Rica is one of only 6 countries worldwide that is currently open to all during the pandemic with no testing and no quarantines required for entry, making it one of the most popular destinations in 2021, especially for American travelers.

Iceland’s Justice Minister just announced that the country will open its borders to travellers from outside Europe who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. According to current regulations, Iceland’s borders are closed to all travellers outside the Schengen Area, EEA, EFTA, and EU, regardless of their vaccination status. Justice Minister Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir stated the change would take effect this week.