Seychelles, the popular holiday destination in the Indian Ocean with a population of less than a hundred thousand inhabitants, as of August 1, 2020 will open its borders to commercial schedule flights, hence provide flexibility for visitors to travel to the islands.
The new lift in air travel restrictions on the destination comes to an indication of the successful progression of the implementation of the first phase of movement restrictions effective as of June 1, 2020.
As the destination tops holiday’s searches in the region, the availability of flights comes at an opportune time for visitors planning to find a peaceful and picturesque vacation.
It is with the aim of ensuring the safety of visitors traveling to Seychelles for a holiday and the local population that a new series of guidelines have been issued by the Public Health Authority in Seychelles and the Tourism Stakeholders.
The guidelines, which have been meticulously discussed by all the different parties within the Seychelles tourism industry, encompass various information relating to traveling to Seychelles and the requirements for the same to happen under the new normal.
The document, which also includes the list of countries, has been made available on the department of tourism website since Friday July 3, 2020 .
PRE – TRAVEL PROCEDURES
1. Visitors coming from low risk countries must have a negative COVID-19 PCR certificate from an authorized laboratory dating no more than 72 hours from the date of travel. In the event that a PCR test is not available, a Rapid Antigen test will be required. Whereas for visitors coming from medium risk countries, they will require a negative PCR certificate no more than 72 hours from the date of travel. Visitors coming from high-risk countries will not be authorized to enter Seychelles.
2. All negative test result certificates including all flights and accommodation details must be sent to the Public Health Authority on the following email address: – [email protected] . If visitors fail to submit the tests results, flights and accommodation details they will be subjected to a COVID-19 PCR or a Rapid Antigen test upon arrival.
3. Upon check in, all travelers coming to Seychelles must submit the approved test results to their respective airline companies for verification. Visitors must comply with all airline protocols upon embarkation.
4. Visitors must ensure that accommodation bookings are made only at licensed accommodation establishments or liveaboards that have been certified by the Public Health Authority. All booking vouchers reflecting the entire duration of their stay in Seychelles must be presented at the immigration counter for verification. If upon arrival visitors have not booked in a licensed and certified accommodation establishment, they will be directed to another establishment that has been certified.
5. Visitors must ensure that they have a valid travel insurance with full medical coverage for the duration of their entire stay in Seychelles.
Prominent points of the documents are highlighted below:
The following information emphasized Testing
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to boarding the flight to Seychelles remains mandatory for all visitors.
- Passengers boarding from medium risk countries are expected to conduct a PCR test within 72 hours of travel while passengers boarding from low risk countries are required to submit to an antigen test within 72 hours of travel.
- Airlines companies are strongly advised not to board any passengers or crew who are symptomatic of COVID-19.
- Any passenger who arrives in Seychelles without this proof will be turned back on the same aircraft.
- Entry screening will be done upon arrival starting with completion of the health check form, symptomatic check, temperature scanning.
- Visitors may be required to undergo a rapid antigen test.
- It is compulsory for all visitors to provide travel insurance coverage.
Reservation and Stay
- Visitors planning on a holiday in Seychelles are encouraged to book their accommodation and leisure activities through licensed tourism service providers that have been certified by the Public Health Authority.
- Upon disembarking in Seychelles all visitors will be required to provide proof of accommodation in an approved establishment for the entire period of stay and must show booking vouchers at the Immigration desk.
- In order to ensure safety of their visitors local service providers are expected to intensify their vigilance and hygiene measures within their premises and while providing their services..
- Daily monitoring by designated Health and Safety officers in accommodation facilities for the first 14 days after arrival of a guest.
Local service provides will be required to keep a trackable movement log of their guests for the first 14 days after arrival of a holiday in Seychelles.
