Negative tests less than 72 hours old, vaccination certificate… The shadow of health restrictions has long hung-over international tourism. What is the situation today?
Hong Kong lifted its last Covid restrictions on tourists on April 1. China’s political satellite now welcomes travelers without a health filter, relegating to oblivion proof of full vaccination or a negative test less than 48 hours old. On-site, tourists will no longer have to wear masks – either in public transport or closed public spaces. In contrast, in early April, the United States chose to extend the vaccination requirement for tourists. This will remain in effect until May 11, 2023.
An incongruity? The United States is one of the last major tourist destinations to maintain Covid-19-related health restrictions on entry, while the country is framed by two states that have returned to the pre-pandemic regime: Mexico has hardly ever issued travel restrictions, and Canada completely removed them on October 1, 2022.
European countries have also dropped the health restrictions they had placed when the borders reopened. The same is true of Morocco, which abolished its last restrictions on Covid-19 in September 2022 – with the exception of a “passenger health form”, which must be duly completed before arrival in the kingdom. The same is true in Tunisia, Egypt and Israel: the last health requirements related to the coronavirus were lifted several months ago.
In Asia, China is the exception. Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia and Malaysia have all repealed their Covid-19 entry requirements. Hong Kong’s removal of sanitary measures earlier this month made it the last country to require tourists to have tested negative for a PCR, antigenic or self-test within 48 hours. The Middle Kingdom also requires travelers to fill out a customs declaration form.
