South-East Asia likely to remain closed until at least autumn
Dreaming of Thailand's beaches, Bali's temples, Vietnam's staggering mountains, or Cambodia's ancient wonders? Well, you're going to have to dream on for now. Despite South East Asia's valiant efforts in controlling the virus, and in stark contrast to the populations of Europe zipping across the continent, travel in the region remains almost completely at a standstill.
Rather than risk an uncontrollable second wave, countries across Asia have chosen to keep their borders firmly closed to mass tourism. Plans for tourism corridors, even within Asia, are slow moving and it is looking increasingly likely that Brits will not be able to visit South East Asia before autumn at the earliest.
Last week, the Foreign Office added Thailand to its list of countries exempt from 'all but essential internation travel' (although travellers would still have to quarantine on return to the UK). That said, Thailand's borders have been closed since March 25 and the nationwide State of Emergency has just been extended until the end of August.
Thailand's Minister of Tourism has posited the idea of introducing small travel bubbles allowing visitors from 'safe' cities and provinces to visit select parts of Thailand, most likely islands such as Phuket and Koh Samui, where the tourists could be contained and separated from the general public. The minister suggested this could happen by September but it is hard to imagine Britain would be included without a drastic drop in cases.
Indonesia's response to the virus has been inconsistent at best. The country of 17,000 islands went into lockdown in April, much later than its neighbours, and began to relax social distancing restrictions in June, despite the virus having spread to all 35 provinces of Indonesia during that time.
Within the space of the last two weeks, Widodo's government has announced plans to reopen Bali to international tourism from September 11, while confirming its number of cases had surpassed 100,000, the highest rate in South East Asia. Testing has been limited and the true number of infected is thought to be considerably higher. The FCO advises against all but essential travel to Indonesia.
Following an incredible run of 99 days without any local cases, Vietnam has locked down Danang and is evacuating 80,000 tourists from the area after four residents tested positive for the virus. While nearly all foreign travellers have been barred from entering the country since mid-March, domestic tourism has been back in full flow with locals taking advantage of deeply discounted flights and hotel packages.
The Danang exodus is expected to take at least four days, with flights running around the clock and travellers forced to quarantine for 14 days when they reach home. The South East Asian country has proven itself a world leader in the fight against the virus, having recorded zero deaths so far. It seems unlikely to allow travellers from COVID-stricken countries, such as the United Kingdom, to return before the end of the year.
If you qualify for an eVisa, are willing to be tested on arrival, quarantine for 14-days at a government approved hotel, and pay a US$3,000/£2,335 deposit to cover medical or funeral expenses, it is still possible to travel to Cambodia, which has been excluded from the FCO's 'all but essential international travel' list. However, there is a requirement to quarantine for 14 days on your return.
