Chile's Ministry of Health has announced the termination of the "Protected Borders Plan" in the country. The measure (to end all restrictions) came into force on May 9, after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the end of the Public Health Emergency of International Importance (PHEIC) due to COVID-19.
The sanitary resolution establishes that the request for the PCR test upon entering the country, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate, and the random testing of travelers, as established in the plan, is eliminated, so that Chile no longer has sanitary requirements for passengers arriving from abroad.
"This measure allows the industry to return to the long-awaited scenario of normality. Inbound tourism is in full reactivation, in fact, we expect 3.5 million foreign tourists to arrive in our country in 2023 and we hope that this announcement will give a new impetus to this process. This is a great opportunity to promote Chile as a unique and world-class destination," said Undersecretary of Tourism Verónica Pardo Lagos.
The authority added that "it is also important to thank the different guilds and associations of the tourism industry for their collaboration and work during the more than three years of international health emergency and for being relevant actors in the implementation of measures and the construction of agreements for their relaxation" and reiterated the call to exercise responsible tourism in all areas.
The Ministry of Health indicated that it is important to highlight that, although the epidemiological scenario in relation to COVID-19 is at a low level, the circulation of other respiratory viruses has advanced at the approach of winter. Therefore, it is important to keep vaccination up to date, both against COVID-19 and Influenza, as well as to maintain the self-care measures learned during the pandemic: frequent hand washing, ventilation of closed spaces and the use of masks when presenting respiratory symptoms.
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