Taiwan is aiming to end mandatory Covid-19 quarantine for incoming passengers from October 13.
As many parts of Asia have eased or lifted Covid-19 restrictions, Taiwan still has some entry and quarantine regulations in place, despite reducing the number of days required for visitors to quarantine from seven to three.
The island has recorded more than 6 million Covid-19 cases since the start of the year, driven in part by the highly contagious Omicron variant. With more than 99% of those showing no or only mild symptoms, the island government is gradually easing restrictions.
Taiwan has kept some entry and quarantine rules in place as much of the rest of Asia eased or lifted them altogether, although in June it cut the number of days required for arrivals from seven days previously.
Taiwan government spokesman Lo Ping-cheng told reporters that visa-free entry will resume for citizens of all countries that previously enjoyed such status starting next Thursday. The island will also raise the weekly limit on international visitors entering the island from 10,000 to 60,000, and will no longer require PCR testing for arrivals.
If “everything is under control”, the government is aiming to end mandatory quarantine for all incoming passengers from around October 13 and the limit on arrivals will be increased to 150,000 people per week, Mr Lo Ping-cheng said.
"This is the final stretch in our fight against the pandemic," Lo Ping-cheng said, adding that the island's government is making all necessary preparations to reopen to international tourists and support domestic businesses that have been affected by the outbreak.
However, those who test positive for Covid-19 will still need to quarantine at home or in designated hotels, the island's government said. While Taiwan's vaccination rate is high, daily cases have risen again, with more than 46,000 reported on Wednesday.
Before the pandemic, Taiwan was a popular tourist destination mainly for Asian visitors, including from Japan, South Korea and Southeast Asia.
