Hong Kong eases international travel...

International tourists can now enter restaurants and attractions after arrival

Hong Kong has eased its Covid-19 restrictions on inbound travellers, scrapping its ‘0+3’ regime, in which visitors had to wait three days before being cleared to visit public venues, including restaurants, bars and attractions.

Hong Kong's ‘Leave Home Safe’ mobile app issued an amber colour code to visitors on the app during their first three days in the destination, which prevented entry to public establishments.

Following the update to regulations, visitors can enter public places with a vaccine pass demonstrating proof of three Covid-19 jabs. In addition, international travellers must also still take a PCR test on arrival at the airport and on the second day of their visit, as well as five days of rapid antigen tests.

Those who test positive will receive a red code and must isolate according to the city’s protocols, while travellers with proof of a negative PCR test will receive a blue code, which means they can move around freely.

The updated rules came into effect from 14 December 2022. This latest easing of restrictions follows the removal of the requirement for international visitors to undergo hotel quarantine, which was announced in September 2022.

Hong kong-based carrier Cathay Pacific welcomed the latest measures, releasing the following statement: “The adjustments will help further boost sentiment for travel, especially among inbound visitors, thereby facilitating the resumption of travel activities and strengthening of network connectivity at the Hong Kong aviation hub.”

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Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific has already resumed flights to destinations such as Denpasar, Bali, and Zurich, Switzerland in November 2022, and Penang, Malaysia in December 2022.

The airline plans to resume flights to many more destinations, including Phuket from January 2023, and expects to be operating 70% of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity by the end of next year. A full return to pre-pandemic levels is expected by the end of 2024.

For more information, visit www.cathaypacific.com