Tourist hotspot Seychelles is welcoming back US travelers – but only those with the COVID-19 vaccine – Business Insider India

Seychelles is reopening its borders to visitors who have received the COVID-19 vaccine in an effort to jumpstart tourism this year.

Seychelles' updated travel guidelines were announced shortly after the archipelagic country unveiled its "immunization campaign," which includes vaccinating almost 70% of local adults by mid-March. It's the first country in Africa to roll out a vaccination program and hopes to become the first country in the world to vaccinate the majority of its adult population, according to a news release from January 11.

For those who aren't yet vaccinated, visitors flying in from Seychelles' list of permitted category one and two countries - or travelers taking a private jet - will have to show a negative COVID-19 test 72 hours before traveling.

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Presently, many countries - officially including the US on Tuesday - are allowing international travelers from select countries to enter so long as they've presented a negative COVID-19 test result. Looking ahead, Seychelles' decision to allow vaccinated travelers could be one of many as talks of "vaccine passports" for global travelers continue around the world.

Several countries around the world have been looking for innovative ways to safely bring back tourists in 2021 after international travel was put on hold throughout 2020. Bermuda, for example, is asking travelers to present a negative PCR coronavirus test within five days of arriving on the island.

Are you a travel industry employee or have a travel industry story to share? Contact this reporter at bchang@insider.com.

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Tourist hotspot Seychelles is welcoming back US travelers - but only those with the COVID-19 vaccine - Business Insider India