Hong Kong Abolishes Hotel Quarantine for Arriving Travelers

The leader of Hong Kong announced that the city will no longer mandate quarantine in designated hotels for incoming travelers, aiming to boost global competitiveness and reopen after nearly two years.

Travelers will no longer be required to present a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours prior to flying to Hong Kong, according to chief executive John Lee, who spoke at a news conference on Friday. Instead, a negative COVID-19 result from a rapid antigen test performed within 24 hours before departure will be needed.

These new regulations took effect on Monday, September 25.

“While we cannot control the epidemic's trajectory, we must maximize our ability to connect with the world to stimulate economic growth and lessen the inconvenience for arriving travelers,” stated Lee, who also confirmed that authorities will not retract the measures announced on Friday.

He emphasized the need for a “balance between risk and economic growth.”

Home monitoring policy replaces hotel quarantine

Starting September 25, travelers arriving in Hong Kong will be required to complete three days of home monitoring. If they test negative for COVID-19 after this period, they will gain access to venues such as restaurants and bars. Additionally, they must complete several mandatory PCR tests, including one upon arrival and others on their second, fourth, and sixth days in Hong Kong, along with daily rapid antigen tests during their first week.

Hong Kong's relaxation of travel restrictions triggered a surge in flight bookings, with Cathay Pacific’s website experiencing “high traffic” immediately following the announcement. Visitors had to wait in a virtual queue to access the site.

Daily COVID-19 cases in the city have dropped to below 6,000, down from over 10,000 earlier this month, with the vast majority being local infections.

For nearly two years, Hong Kong mandated that incoming travelers undergo a period of quarantine in designated hotels. At one point, the city enforced one of the longest quarantine durations in the world, lasting 21 days.

As the rest of the globe reopened its borders, businesses pressured Hong Kong officials to formulate an exit strategy from the pandemic to maintain competitiveness, especially amid a significant exodus of residents.

Numerous companies relocated their offices to places like Singapore in search of relief from the stringent restrictions in Hong Kong.

Months before Hong Kong, Singapore had already relaxed its travel restrictions and eased COVID-19 protocols, raising concerns that Hong Kong might fall behind as an international financial hub and regional business center.

Lee stated that authorities will continue to monitor the pandemic situation in Hong Kong to assess the potential for further easing of restrictions, expressing optimism that the relaxation of rules will be positively received by those wishing to visit.

“If we see positive trends as we move forward... there will be greater opportunities for us to implement additional measures, allowing for increased movement, more activities, and greater freedom to engage in various [activities],” he stated.

Taiwan is expected to eliminate hotel quarantine in October

According to the Central Epidemic Command Center, Taiwan is contemplating the removal of its quarantine requirement for all incoming travelers by mid-October.

Throughout the pandemic, Taiwan has been among the few places worldwide to maintain a quarantine for all arrivals. However, in recent months, it has gradually reduced the previous two-week quarantine period.

Officials from the CECC overseeing the pandemic response announced plans to replace quarantine with seven days of self-health monitoring. This change will depend on the pandemic situation in Taiwan over the coming week.

The anticipated date for the cessation of quarantine is October 13.

Taiwan has announced that from September 12, citizens from Canada, the U.S., and certain European countries that previously enjoyed visa-free entry can once again travel to Taiwan without a visa.

Under the revised regulations, arrivals are still required to stay in accommodations that offer one separate bathroom for each person and will receive rapid tests upon arrival.

Currently, incoming travelers are permitted to quarantine at home for three days starting from their arrival date. Following this, they must adhere to four days of self-health management, which involves monitoring their temperature and avoiding dining in restaurants.

Once Taiwan eliminates its quarantine requirement, mainland China will remain one of the few places globally that still mandates quarantine for incoming travelers.