Countries around the globe are opening slowly for tourism amid the pandemic. After Seychelles, Thailand and Iceland – Cyprus has now announced that it’s opening for 16 countries. Yes, the Mediterranean island has added 16 countries to its safe list- in an attempt to kickstart its tourism industry. Read on to know more about it.
Also read: 10 International Destinations To Add To Your Bucket List In 2021: Kamiya Jani
Cyprus To Reopen Borders For UAE, Ukraine, Egypt, Qatar, UK, etc.
Cyprus will reopen its borders to the UAE, the UK, Russia, Israel, Ukraine, Lebanon, Egypt, Belarus, Serbia, the US and Qatar. It means that travellers from these countries will not need special permission to enter the country. Besides this, travellers arriving from these nations will not have to quarantine on arrival, according to the island’s health ministry. However, they will have to present a negative PCR test, taken within 72 hours before the arrival. And once they land, they have to take the test on arrival in the country.
Also read: Seychelles Is World’s First Country To Achieve Herd Immunity; Reopens For Tourists
Travellers Will Have To Comply To All The Health Protocols In The Nation
All tourists will have to comply with health protocols like social distancing in public and wearing a face mask. Besides this, from May 1, Cyprus will also welcome vaccinated British tourists with no entry restrictions. The UK is the island’s largest tourism market, accounting for nearly four million arrivals in 2019. Russia is the island’s second-biggest tourism market, followed by Israel.
Also read: Thailand To Allow Vaccinated Tourists To Skip Quarantine Upon Arrival
Tourism plays a big part in Cyrpu’s GDP, and because of the pandemic, the country has suffered a major loss. In terms of the covid cases, it has recorded 45,000 cases and 250 deaths. The nation has implemented two national lockdowns and has managed comparatively well compared to other EU nations.
In fact, research suggests that Cyprus ranked fifth in a Covid Performance Index of almost 100 countries for handling the coronavirus pandemic.