Seychelles welcomes back all visitors

Sunbathers soak up the sunshine at Grande Soeur, Seychelles (photo courtesy Seychelles Tourism Board).

The Seychelles has announced that it will welcome back all visitors this month, regardless as to whether they have had a Covid-19 vaccine.

From March 25, the country will allow all international arrivals bar those from South Africa to enter the country. From this date, arrivals will only need proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure. There will be no quarantine regulation or restriction on movement and no minimum stay requirement.

However, visitors must abide by a raft of public health measures, including wearing a face mask, social distancing and regular hand washing.

Holidaymakers will have access to all communal areas of their hotel or resort, including pools, spas and kids’ clubs.

The announcement was made by Sylvestre Radegonde, minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism, at a joint press briefing earlier this week with Seychelles Tourism Board.

According to Radegonde, the decision to relax entry procedures was made due to the success of the country’s “aggressive vaccination campaign” which began in January. The government is aiming to vaccinate 70% of its population by the middle of March, thus achieving herd immunity.

“The vaccination campaign has been quite successful,” said Radegonde. “The government has done everything in its power to make sure the population is protected. We have now arrived at a point where opening our borders further is the next step to allow for our economic recovery.”

He added that the new measures announced this week “reflect broadly the recommendation of our tourism partners and have been done in full consultation with and the endorsement of our health authorities.”

The Seychelles said it will continuously review the new measures to ensure the health and safety of its residents are not compromised. Travellers to the Indian Ocean island nation currently must provide proof they have received both shots of the Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or Janssen vaccine at least two weeks before departure to benefit from a quarantine-free visit.

More details can be found online.

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