Agence France-Presse have a little more detail on the announcement on the Philippines plan to re-open to vaccinated tourists.
They report that borders will reopen “soon†according to the statement from tourism secretary Berna Puyat, without providing a date.
“Allowing tourists from green countries or territories that have the majority of its population vaccinated and with low infection rate, will greatly help in our recovery efforts,†Puyat said.
“This move will likewise aid in bolstering consumer confidence, which is a large contributor to our gross domestic product,†she added.
More than 40 countries and territories are currently classified “green†– low risk and exempt from quarantine requirements – including China, Indonesia and Zimbabwe.
Tourism is a major driver of the Southeast Asian country’s economy, accounting for nearly 13 percent of gross domestic product in 2019, when it attracted more than eight million visitors, official data showed.