jpnn.com, JAKARTA - Singapore will reopen its borders for Indonesian travelers through the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) starting November 29, 2021.
The arrangement of safe travel through VTL was discussed by Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan at a meeting in Singapore on Tuesday.
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Both parties agreed to continue discussions on VTL arrangements reciprocally. The two foreign ministers also discussed details of the implementation of the unilateral VTL granted by Singapore to travelers from Indonesia on direct travel from one place to another, namely from Jakarta to Singapore.
"The Singapore Foreign Minister conveyed that Singapore's unilateral VTL implementation was based on, among other things, trust in the system, the continued improvement in the Covid-19 situation in Indonesia, and the higher vaccination rate," said Retno after the meeting.
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Retno also said that the implementation of the unilateral VTL would apply for assigned flights.
With VTL, travelers from Indonesia who have been vaccinated can enter Singapore by showing a negative PCR test result. They also have to take a Covid-19 test upon arrival, without the need to undergo quarantine.
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The quota for VTL is 10,000 people per day from all countries implementing VTL. Travelers must ask for an entry permit from the Singapore government before visiting the country.
Indonesian citizens can start submitting applications for entry permits to Singapore on November 22, 2021.
Both governments also continue to discuss a safe travel bubble, especially from Singapore to Bintan by ferry.
Singapore's Ministry of Transport said in a statement that Indonesia and Singapore were close neighbors that have good economic and people-to-people relations.
Its Ministry of Health previously updated Indonesia's health status to Category II starting November 12, 2021.
During the meeting, the two foreign ministers also discussed plans for a leaders' retreat between Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
Both foreign ministers agreed to prepare concrete and beneficial meeting outcomes for the two countries. (ant/dil/mcr20/jpnn)
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