Singapore is introducing a new visitor system that it hopes will help to enable more business and high net worth travellers to visit it as the coronavirus pandemic continues to cause economic disruption and cultural upheaval across the globe.
The city state – a major hub for business travellers and a global and regional centre of medical excellence for the international private medical insurance and healthcare industry – hopes the “Connect@Singapore” initiative will kick start parts of its economy that have been hit hard by restrictions introduced to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing unveiled details of the plans that have been drawn up to “facilitate essential global business exchanges and support the revival of Singapore’s air hub status and hospitality sector”.
Connect@Singapore will be open to a limited number of business, official and “high economic value” travellers from all countries who are coming to Singapore for short-term stays of up to 14 days.
Applications will open in the middle of January 2021 and the first travellers will be able to arrive from the second half of January 2021.
Connect@Singapore will complement other travel lanes that have already been established such as the Reciprocal Green Lane, officials said.
Strict health and testing protocols will be in place to protect travellers and the local community. For the entire duration of their stay in Singapore, travellers under this initiative will be housed in a “bubble” within dedicated facilities, undergo regular testing, and strictly observe all prevailing Safe Management Measures (SMMs).
Travellers will be able to conduct meetings with local visitors and with other traveller groups – with SMMs in place – while in the facilities. They would also have to undergo Antigen Rapid Tests as part of the health and safety protocols.
