As Taiwan’s current outbreak began in April, authorities began requiring tour group travelers to be vaccinated with three doses of a COVID vaccine. Now that cases look to be falling, some are asking for the requirement to be removed as Taiwan tries to get back to normal.
As Taiwan’s current COVID outbreak looks to be slowing down, many are starting to look towards traveling again. But government rules require all those participating in travel groups to have three doses of a COVID vaccine. Some are wondering if this might change.
Transportation Minister Wang Kuo-tsai says many people who travel in tour groups tend to be older. Only about 50% of this group have received their third dose, meaning about half can’t join tours. Wang says if gyms no longer require three doses, in principle neither should tour groups. He says he has already sent a proposal to Taiwan’s epidemic authorities to remove the three dose requirement.
The tourism industry has been hit hard by the three dose requirement. An industry group estimates that half of tour group reservations were canceled after the policy was announced.
The tourism industry welcomes the change. Many businesspersons say it will help breathe new life into Taiwan’s hospitality sector. It also could prepare the industry to welcome foreign tourists if Taiwan relaxes border restrictions in the second half of the year.
The Transportation Ministry says if epidemic authorities approve the rule change, they will publish new guidelines next month.