Your dream of a nice long vacation on the French Polynesian Islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora can soon become a reality. The President of French Polynesia Edouard Fritch announced that the Islands of Tahiti and Bora Bora will reopen their borders for tourists from May 1, 2021. The announcement followed a meeting President Fritch had with French President Emmanuel Macronto to discuss the conditions of the pandemic in French Polynesia. As of now, it’s uncertain whether the country will be open to foreign travellers from across the globe or only from some specific countries.
French Polynesia, an overseas collectively of France, has over 100 islands in the South Pacific Pacific Ocean. This is the nation’s first month without any virus deaths and the number of new coronavirus cases have also significantly reduced since January. The islands have recorded less than 20 new Covid cases per week and vaccinations are now available to all adults in French Polynesia.
On 3rd February, French Polynesia had suspended travel into the country and only those passengers with a ‘compelling reason’ related to health, profession, family, or return trips to home were permitted to travel. The restriction was initially planned for three months, but the time has been cut short given the decreasing number of COVID-19 cases.
The country will put into effect a set of specific rules and regulations that will need to be followed by those travelling to the Islands. The Islands continue to follow the curfew rules from 10 PM to 4 AM which will be in place till April 30. Details of French Polynesia’s border control measures to protect its citizens and travelers from the virus will be announced shortly.
“We are going to put in place a protocol at the entry of our borders using virological testing, serological testing, vaccine, and ETIS (Electronic Travel Information System),” said President Fritch.
Present data shows that there have been 18,678 COVID-19 cases and 141 related deaths in the country since the starting of the pandemic.
