As it continues to relax the limitations put in place to stop the spread of COVID-19, Taiwan announced on Monday that travelers from nations including the United States and Canada would again be able to enter without a visa starting the following week.
Although it reduced the number of days spent in isolation for new immigrants from seven to three in June, Taiwan maintained its entrance and quarantine regulations while much of Asia had relaxed or eliminated them.
Since the start of the year, Taiwan has reported more than 5.3 million domestic cases, primarily due to the more contagious Omicron strain. However, the government has loosened rather than tightened restrictions on the "New Taiwan model" because more than 99% of those have no or minor symptoms.
The Central Epidemic Command Center in Taiwan announced that beginning on Monday, visitors from the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, and diplomatic partners would once again be able to enter the country without a visa.
The choice was made because most nations have already reinstated pre-pandemic border controls and opened their borders, as well as the necessity to strike a balance between epidemic protection, social and economic activities, and international trade.
The current cap on 50,000 arrivals each week, the three-day quarantine requirement, and the requirement for a PCR test upon arrival, according to Command Center Chief Victor Wang, will all stay in place for the time being.
The requirement for pre-departure negative PCR tests has already been eliminated in Taiwan, where the population is highly immunized.
Taiwanese nationals and foreign residents have had to quarantine at home or in hotels during the pandemic, although this has never prevented them from leaving and then returning.
Before the epidemic, Taiwan was a well-liked travel destination for primarily Asian tourists, with the key markets being Southeast Asia, South Korea, and Japan.