Vanuatu, the South Pacific country long-closed due to COVID-19, as of 1 July, has seen its borders reopening to international travel.
Many countries in Melanesia and Micronesia weren’t taking any chances as soon as word of the pandemic hit, since they have limited infrastructure to deal with significant outbreaks. However, after more than two years of shuttered borders, owing to the introduction of vaccines, and greater scientific awareness of the virus, this tropical Oceania paradise is finally open again.
Or, maybe it’s that’s tourism is a vital part of the Vanuatu economy, accounting for nearly 20% of its GDP. Either way, I’m quite tempted to try Vanuatuan chocolate and lap lap.
Pulled straight from Vanuatu’s government page, here are the new entry rules:
As of July 1st, 2022, all travellers aged to two (2) years and over must provide at the airlines check-in desk for any international flights to Vanuatu evidence of:
- Negative COVID-19 PCR test done 24 to 72 hours before scheduled departure from travel origin, OR
- Negative COVID-19 supervised certified RAT done within 24 hours of departure, OR
- Positive COVID-19 RAT or PCR test at least 8 days but no more than 2 months before the date of departure.
Getting a test might be annoying, but actually flying to Vanuatu is quite a bit trickier. Their national carrier, Air Vanuatu — by far the biggest airline at the country’s primary airport in Port Vila, the capital — has but two planes to its name.
Nevertheless, if you’re looking to boat around a crater lake, and/or swim with dugongs, check it out!
Leave a Reply