Taiwan to open first travel bubble, with tiny Palau

EVA Airways

17/03/2021 08:07

TAIPEI, March 17 (Reuters) - Taiwan will form its first
travel bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tiny
Pacific nation of Palau, the government said on Wednesday.
    Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to
early and effective prevention, but has kept its borders largely
shut, and the bubble marks a small return to normality. Taiwan
currently has only 29 active cases being treated in hospitals.
    Palau, one of only 15 countries to officially recognise the
Chinese-claimed island's government, and whose president plans
to visit Taiwan, has reported zero cases.
    "I'm glad to announce the official launch of the
Taiwan-Palau travel bubble," Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu
told reporters, calling the move a demonstration of "firm
friendship" between the two. 
    The travel bubble will start in April, with two flights a
week carrying 110 tourists each from Taiwan to Palau. Travellers
must present negative coronavirus tests and join tour groups, in
which they will be asked to follow social-distancing rules such
as only visiting designated sites and hotels.
    Taiwan will also take tourists travelling in groups from
Palau. 
    Wu said Palau President Surangel Whipps would visit Taiwan
and meet President Tsai Ing-wen on March 28 in what he calls a
"significant" trip that will boost the bilateral relationship.
Palau is home to fewer than 20,000 people and also has close
relations with the United States.
    In April, Taiwan reported a coronavirus outbreak among
sailors visiting Palau, though the source of the infections was
never confirmed. urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2C7032
    Palau is a three-and-a-half hour flight from Taiwan and is
famed for its clear waters and pristine coral reefs. China
Airlines Ltd  2610.TW , Taiwan's largest carrier, will fly the
travel bubble route.

 (Reporting by Yimou Lee and Ben Blanchard. Editing by Gerry
Doyle)
 ((ben.blanchard@thomsonreuters.com;))