By Bev Fearis, published 16/12/20

Singapore will open its borders to select business travellers from mid January.

Under an initiative called Connect@Singapore it will allow access to a ‘limited number’ of travellers deemed as official and of high economic value.

The country’s Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing told a press conference: “Global travel, especially global business travel, has been severely impacted by the need for quarantine measures, and many people in different countries cannot meet each other for business activities.”

Visitors will need to stay in dedicated facilities and undergo regular testing during their stay.

“The idea is for business people to come into Singapore for up to a period of 14 days,” said the Minister.

“During these 14 days, they will undergo the necessary routine medical checks to provide themselves the assurance that they are safe and also to provide the assurance to their meeting partners that they are safe.”

The first Connect@Changi pilot will launch in the first quarter of 2021 at Singapore EXPO.

Meetings will take place on site with more than 600 guest rooms and about 170 meeting rooms available.

Singapore already operates similar business travel schemes with other countries, including China and Indonesia.