As the Covid-19 pandemic continues to wreak havoc on the travel industry, countless destinations around the world are rolling out vaccines to their most vulnerable citizens.
Over 500 million coronavirus vaccine doses have already been rolled out around the world.
At least 30 million people in the UK have received the first dose of the vaccine, while the US is currently administering nearly 2.5 million shots a day.
However it’s worth pointing out that while the main Covid vaccines are around 95% effective, it’s not clear whether vaccinated individuals can still become infected and spread the virus to others.
Nevertheless, there’s no doubt that these successful rollouts are a step in the right direction.
As a result, a number of destinations are choosing to either drop border restrictions for travelers who’ve been fully vaccinated, or ease them significantly.
From Belize to Iceland, here are destinations reopening to tourists who’ve received the Covid-19 vaccine.
Belize
Belize recently became the first Caribbean nation to welcome vaccinated tourists.
Those who can prove they’ve had two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine at least two weeks before their trip no longer have to produce a negative PCR test before entering.
Non-vaccinated travelers are also welcome to visit the country, positioned on the eastern coast of Central America, as long as they provide a negative PCR test taken within four days of their arrival or a rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of travel
Any visitors who are unable to produce a negative test result when they arrive will be tested at the airport at a cost of $50.
All tourists must download the Belize Health App and fill out the relevant information within 72 hours of arriving in Belize.
Cyprus
Back in December, Cyprus became the first destination to announce plans to allow travelers who’ve been fully vaccinated to enter without having to go into quarantine.
While it was previously claimed that the new rules would come into effect on March 1, this was never confirmed by government officials.
Fully-vaccinated travelers from Israel have been given the go ahead to travel to Cyprus without producing a negative PCR test or going into quarantine from April 1 and deputy tourism minister Savvas Perdios has indicated that this will be extended to visitors from the UK on May 1.
It’s currently unclear whether this will be expanded to any more destinations just yet, but it’s been suggested that restrictions on incoming tourists from a selection of chosen destinations may be relaxed slightly in the coming weeks.
Currently travelers who are permitted to visit Cyprus have the option to either provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before travel, or undergo a test on arrival.
They must then go into quarantine for two weeks in government-assigned accommodation. The isolation period can be shortened slightly if travelers undergo a molecular test on their tenth day of quarantine at their own expense and receive a negative result.
However, officials are reportedly considering amending this to allow travelers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UK and Israel to enter without going into quarantine, provided they submit a negative test before entering and take a second test after landing in Cyprus.
Ecuador and the Galapagos
Fully vaccinated travelers can visit Ecuador provided they produce a negative PCR test taken no less than three days before their arrival.
Vaccinated visitors are also allowed to travel to the Galapagos archipelago, which is part of Ecuador, but the rules are slightly more complicated.
Those who wish to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site once they’ve entered Ecuador must produce a test taken within 96 hours of their trip.
This means that travelers who plan to travel there more than 96 hours after arriving in Ecuador, will need to take another test at their own expense.
The new rules, which came into effect on March 22, also apply to those who previously tested positive for Covid-19 and are now symptom free. Children under the age of two are exempt from the restrictions.
Travelers must also adhere to Ecuador’s Covid-19 protocols, such as wearing face masks in public places and maintaining social distancing and avoid gathering in groups of more than 10 people, during the course of their visit.
Estonia
Estonia hasn’t just dropped mandatory quarantine requirements for EU travelers, it’s also relinquished them for those with evidence proving they’ve recovered from Covid-19 in the past six months.
The European country is also accepting those with vaccinations from nine suppliers across the world rather than just Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Oxford-AstraZeneca, the three that have been approved by the European Union.
Only vaccination certificates produced in Estonian, Russian or English will be recognized and visitors who’ve previously had Covid will need to submit a doctor’s certificate, as well as a recent PCR test indicating they are no longer infected with the virus.
“This is to show mutual solidarity. If we take into account vaccines in use in other countries, we could hope that vaccines in use in our country will also be taken into account in other countries,” Hanna Sepp, head of the country’s Infectious Diseases Surveillance and Epidemic Control Department, told Estonia television organization ERR News.
Estonia currently has a 10-day mandatory quarantine in place for arrivals, with exceptions for European countries deemed low risk, such as Bulgaria, Iceland and Norway, as well as evidence of a negative PCR test taken within three days of arriving. Those arriving from the UK are also required to present a negative PCR test taken no earlier than 72 hours before arrival.
Georgia
Georgia, which sits at the crossroads between Asia and Europe, has also opted to lift restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Georgia recently announced that all visitors who’ve received two doses of any Covid-19 vaccine are permitted to enter the nation without producing a negative PCR test.
“Citizens of all countries, traveling by air from any country may enter Georgia if they present the document confirming the full course (two doses) of any Covid-19 vaccination at the border checkpoints of Georgia,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Georgia said in a statement.
Non-vaccinated travelers must present a negative PCR test result taken within 72 hours of travel and are also required to take a second test “at their own expense” on day three of their stay.
Those who’ve traveled to the United Kingdom within 14 days of their visit must undergo a 12-day mandatory quarantine upon entry.
Iceland
From May 1, fully vaccinated travelers from European Union countries, as well as Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, can skip quarantine when they arrive in Iceland and will not be required to submit a negative PCR test.
Visitors who can provide a paper vaccination in Icelandic, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish or English proving they’ve had two doses of one of the three main Covid-19 vaccines will be exempt from border restrictions.
However, those who present an “invalid” document will have to “undergo double testing with quarantine in between,” according to the Icelandic Directorate of Health.
The popular destination is also planning to issue digital “vaccination certificates” to Icelandic citizens who’ve been vaccinated “to facilitate the movement of people between countries.”
Non-vaccinated arrivals from destinations where travel to Iceland is permitted must take a Covid test on arrival, before going into quarantine for five to six days and taking a second test.
Exemptions will be made in some circumstances, such as those with a valid medical reason.
Guatemala
Restrictions have been waived for vaccinated travelers visiting Guatemala since February 24.
Tourists who present a valid certificate confirming they’ve received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine are allowed to enter the Latin American country without being required to quarantine or produce a negative test.
However, their second dose must have been administered at least two weeks before the beginning of their trip.
At present, non-residents who’ve been in the United Kingdom or South Africa in the 14 days prior to their arrival are not permitted to enter the country regardless of their vaccination status.
Tourists who have not received a Covid jab can still visit, but they must produce a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival.
Evidence of having tested positive for coronavirus and subsequently recovered will also allow travelers to gain entry. Children under the age of 10 are exempt from these requirements.
Visitors must register their details via the Guatemalan Health Pass website 24 hours before arriving in Guatemala.
Madeira
Madeira, a Portuguese autonomous region located in the North Atlantic Ocean, is accepting fully vaccinated visitors from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The country, known as the “Pearl of the Atlantic,” is also welcoming those who can prove they’ve recovered from Covid in the past 90 days.
Before being allowed to enter, travelers must produce an official vaccination certificate that states the dates they received each dose of the vaccine.
Those who visit will need to follow Madeira’s current Covid-19 measures, such as wearing face masks in public places. The country’s restaurants, bars and casino are currently required to shut at 6 p.m.
Poland
Travelers from EU countries can visit Poland without undergoing its mandatory 10-day quarantine “on the basis of a certificate confirming vaccination against Covid-19.”
The European country lifted restrictions for arrivals who’ve been fully vaccinated on December 28.
Those who provide a negative SARS?CoV?2 test on arrival are also exempt as long as there’s no more than 48 hours between the time they receive their test result and the time they cross the border.
Romania
All travelers arriving in Romania from permitted destinations who have been fully vaccinated from Covid have been exempt from quarantining on arrival since January 18.
The new rules were announced by the European’s country’s National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU), who stipulated that visitors and returning residents will need to show evidence that they’ve had two doses of the vaccine in order to avoid mandatory isolation.
The second dose must have been administered at least 10 days prior to their arrival.
“The vaccination proof, including the date when the second dose was administered, should be made through the document issued by the health unit that administered it, whether that be in Romania or abroad,” the CNSU said in a statement.
At present, travelers arriving from countries on Romania’s “yellow list,” which is made up of destinations of high epidemiological risk, are required to quarantine for 14 days.
Those who submit a PCR taken no fewer than 72 hours before entry must quarantine for 10 days.
The Seychelles
The Seychelles joined the increasing number of destinations to drop quarantine requirements for travelers who’ve been vaccinated against Covid-19 in January.
And after a successful vaccine rollout, the remote destination situated off the coast of Tanzania, has relaxed restrictions even further.
As of March 25, all travelers, other than those from South Africa, are permitted to enter the Seychelles as long as they submit proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within 72 hours of travel.
“We are comfortable that we’ve achieved the immunity that we deserve,” Sylvestre Radegonde, minister of foreign affairs and tourism for the Seychelles, told CNN Travel earlier this month. “We’ve trained the establishments. We have the facilities in place.
“The health facilities are there and the measures we have implemented are working. So we’re comfortable to reopen.”