Push Admin

Taiwan to open first travel bubble, with tiny Palau

Article (news)

Reuters

<p>TAIPEI - Taiwan will form its first travel bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tiny Pacific nation of Palau, the government said Wednesday.</p><p>Taiwan has kept the pandemic well under control thanks to early and effective prevention, but has kept its borders largely shut, and the bubble marks a small return to normality. Taiwan currently has only 29 active cases being treated in hospitals.</p><p>Palau, 1 of only 15 countries to officially recognize the Chinese-claimed island&#x27;s government, and whose president plans to visit Taiwan, has reported zero cases.</p><p>&quot;I&#x27;m glad to announce the official launch of the Taiwan-Palau travel bubble,&quot; Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told reporters, calling the move a demonstration of &quot;firm friendship&quot; between the 2.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/01/28/21/nz-taiwan-top-covid-19-performance-ranking-us-uk-languish">NZ, Vietnam top COVID performance ranking; US, UK languish</a></li></ul><p>The travel bubble will start in April, with 2 flights a week carrying 110 tourists each from Taiwan to Palau. Travelers must present negative coronavirus tests and join tour groups, in which they will be asked to follow social-distancing rules such as only visiting designated sites and hotels.</p><p>Taiwan will also take tourists traveling in groups from Palau.</p><p>Wu said Palau President Surangel Whipps would visit Taiwan and meet President Tsai Ing-wen on March 28 in what he calls a &quot;significant&quot; trip that will boost the bilateral relationship. Palau is home to fewer than 20,000 people and also has close relations with the United States.</p><p>In April, Taiwan reported a coronavirus outbreak among sailors visiting Palau, though the source of the infections was never confirmed.</p><p>Palau is a 3-and-a-half hour flight from Taiwan and is famed for its clear waters and pristine coral reefs. China Airlines Ltd, Taiwan&#x27;s largest carrier, will fly the travel bubble route. </p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VnSQa30cINI?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Taiwan will form its first travel bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tiny Pacific nation of Palau, the government said Wednesday.</p>

Taiwan will form its first travel bubble during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the tiny Pacific nation of Palau, the government said Wednesday.