"PHILIPPINES ACCEPTING FULLY-VACCINATED TOURISTS FEB. 10, TRAVEL INSURANCE NOW REQUIRED"

Tourists from visa-free countries only

BREAKING NEWS FROM THE PH DEPT. OF TOURISM

The Philippines will start to accept fully-vaccinated foreign leisure travelers from visa-free countries beginning February 10.

Travel insurance for COVID-19 treatment costs from reputed insurers are NOW A REQUIREMENT! A minimum coverage of $35,000 (about P1.75 million) for the duration of their stay in the Philippines is now necessary! This new regulation was just announced on Friday Feb. 5, 2022. It’s another stumbling block for those wanting to visit the Philippines.

“It’s the (insurance) coverage, that’s not the price, that’s not the premium you pay. The premium is much, much cheaper. Maybe the premium (required) by reputable insurers that have that coverage is around P1,000 to P2,000,” Presidential Spokesperson Nograles said at a media briefing.

Tourism Secretary Berna Romulo-Puyat made the original announcement January 28 (Friday) after the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) approved the proposal of the Department of Tourism (DOT).

“We at the DOT are very thankful to our partners in the IATF-EID for approving our proposal to allow the entry of foreign leisure travelers. The Department sees this as a welcome development that will contribute significantly to job restoration, primarily in tourism-dependent communities, and in the reopening of businesses that have earlier shut down during the pandemic,’’ Puyat said.

Puyat clarified that the recent IATF-EID decision will cover only leisure travelers from countries whose nationals are allowed visa-free entry to the Philippines.

Likewise, starting Feb. 10 and upon consultation with health experts, qualified leisure travelers will also no longer be required to undergo quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure from point of origin.

“We are also aware that there is no room for complacency given the unpredictability of the virus. We will closely monitor the situation and ensure that health and safety protocols are strictly implemented in all tourism establishments,” Puyat noted.

Based on the IATF-EID guidelines, leisure travelers from visa-free countries will be allowed to enter the country, provided that their passports are valid for at least six months at the time of arrival, and they possess outbound tickets to their country of origin or next country of destination.

Leisure visitors must also carry proof of vaccination against COVID-19 that are recognized by the IATF-EID.

The IATF-EID also announced the suspension of the country classification system starting Feb. 1, 2022. There will be no more red, yellow, green list country classification. Thus, it will no longer matter if a traveler arrives from a country that is high, moderate, or low risk for COVID-19 transmission.

Also starting Feb. 1, fully-vaccinated returning overseas Filipinos will no longer be required to undergo quarantine as long as they are able to present a negative result of an RT-PCR test taken 48 hours prior to departure from point of origin.

They include certificates of vaccination issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), VaxCertPH of the Department of Health, and a national/ state digital certificate of a foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement unless otherwise permitted by the IATF.

The list of countries whose nationals are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa can be found at this link. Nationals from visa free countries who are traveling to the Philippines for business and tourism purposes are allowed to enter the Philippines without visas for a stay not exceeding thirty (30) days.