Hong Kong Lifts Most Travel Restrictions

Garrett Gardner

Nearly a few decades after the pandemic shut down worldwide travel, Hong Kong will be lifting journey limits to the stage that I’m pretty much prepared to go to again… I assume?

Hong Kong ending most worldwide travel limitations

Considering that the start out of the pandemic, Hong Kong has been one particular of the strictest sites in the environment when it comes to coronavirus linked journey constraints. For effectively above two yrs, Hong Kong experienced expected a quarantine in a facility for international travelers, which has been as prolonged as 21 days.

We noticed the first important sign of restrictions remaining eased in September 2022, as Hong Kong finished its quarantine need for vaccinated travelers. Even so, significant constraints remained in spot, which includes substantial testing (which includes prior to travel and upon arrival), boundaries on the place vacationers could take a look at on their very first three days (eating places, bars, etc., were off boundaries), and the need to use a wellness application.

These restrictions will lastly be eased. As of Wednesday, December 14, 2022, international arriving travelers in Hong Kong:

  • Will have no limitations on movement, and can take a look at dining places, bars, and many others., as quickly as they get there
  • Will no for a longer period have to use a overall health application to present their amber code

In other terms, travelers no lengthier have any big constraints, with the exception of a screening prerequisite. Two coronavirus exams nonetheless keep on being vital — 1 fast antigen examination is required in 24 hours of departure, and then a PCR test is needed on the second working day immediately after arrival.

Hong Kong even further easing journey limitations comes as mainland China has began to simplicity some of its coronavirus associated restrictions, as the region no more time pursues a zero tolerance tactic toward the pandemic.

Hong Kong is lifting most remaining travel limits

Would I journey to Hong Kong now?

Pre-pandemic, Hong Kong was probably my favourite metropolis in the earth, and I have genuinely been wanting to go again. Up until now, Hong Kong’s makes an attempt to simplicity journey restrictions haven’t been adequate to make me feel at ease browsing.

I wasn’t about to go to Hong Kong, only to get analyzed endlessly, and to then not be ready to go to many shops for a few times. I was satisfied waiting around right up until a lot more limitations had been eased.

So, does the newest update on travel restrictions adjust how I feel? Of course(ish):

  • For the 1st few of yrs of the pandemic, I had no difficulties with destinations owning screening demands nevertheless, with a broad the vast majority of destinations no for a longer time necessitating tests, and with the common ramifications of tests constructive, I’m a bit extra careful at this place
  • Not acquiring constraints on movement after you arrive in Hong Kong is fantastic information, and a stage in the ideal way
  • I’d really feel relaxed browsing Hong Kong now if there were being a specific motive I preferred to go, but individually I even now wouldn’t vacation there casually as a stopover for a several times there’s even now a little bit of a problem element, and there are other places without limits I’d also like to return to

I do assume this is a big action in the suitable path, however, and specially important for company. Folks traveling to Hong Kong for business enterprise can at the time once again do so in a reasonable manner.

A single other consideration is that flying to Hong Kong will not necessarily be that effortless. Cathay Pacific is even now only operating a small proportion of its pre-pandemic schedule, and isn’t able to ramp up service rapidly, given how considerably of its fleet is parked, how quite a few team have been laid off, etcetera.

Which is not to say that acquiring a flight to Hong Kong will be difficult, but I would not anticipate capacity to ramp up as immediately as we have noticed in some other markets. As a consequence, airfares will be substantial, and award availability confined.

Cathay Pacific has not ramped up services considerably

Base line

Hong Kong is lifting most remaining travel limits as of this week. Hong Kong is no for a longer period restricting the motion of arriving intercontinental travelers, and is also reducing the amber health and fitness application prerequisite. Tourists will still want to examination prior to journey and on arrival, which is not a massive deal.

It’s pleasant to see Hong Kong simplicity limits to the stage that I believe quite a few persons would experience comfy traveling there. Hong Kong has arrive a prolonged way in the earlier many months, when you take into consideration that right up until April, international transit travellers weren’t even allowed at the airport…

What do you make of Hong Kong additional easing journey limits? Is this more than enough for you to want to visit?

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