Below are additional resources and FAQs regarding the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as they specifically relate to Diethelm Travel, our destinations, clients and guests.
This page will be updated with new information and announcements as necessary.
If you have any questions or require more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us at sales@diethelmtravel.com .
Access our “ Travel Traffic Light ” anytime online which is an at-a-glance listing of international border updates, visa and travel regulations, and country operations:
For summary information of temporary hotel closure across 13 countries in Asia, please click HERE or see the details below:
9 June 2020 , 10:00 hours
Travel restrictions in Bhutan
From the Tourism Council of Bhutan, the tourist ban implemented on 6 March 2020 will continue until further notice. The restriction applies to all tourists regardless of nationality.
Travelers who were planning to visit Bhutan in March must postpone their trip until later this year.
Email bhutan@diethelmtravel.bt for more information or help adjusting bookings.
18 December 2020 , 14:00 hours
Travel restrictions in Cambodia
The Royal Government of Cambodia has decided to impose, in addition to the recent travel measures of the Ministry of Health of Cambodia, the following temporary entry restriction into the Kingdom of Cambodia, until further notice:
Email dt_cambodia@kh.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
25 May 2020 , 10:00 hours
Situation updates in China
Things are beginning to open up and return to normal across the country. Many open spaces, natural sights, public cultural sites and low-risk areas nationwide have reopened. Some museums, such as the Shanghai Natural History Museum, have reopened with new virus protection procedures. Hotels and restaurants are also gradually opening up, while many provinces are planning to open schools beginning as early as the end of March.
Starting 15 March, travel agencies have been allowed to organize trips for local tourists within their province.
Any travelers entering China from COVID-19 areas need to self-quarantine at home or in designated place for 14 days.
While in public, all people must wear a face mask and access to public places requires disinfection and registration.
China has decided to temporarily close the borders for foreigners with a valid visa or residence permit from 28 March. Entry with diplomatic passports, official, honorary or C visas is still possible. Foreigners wishing to enter China for economic, scientific, technological and humanitarian purposes should still apply for visas at Chinese embassies and consulates.
Email reservation@cn.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
01 Sep 2021 , 16:00 hours
Entering Hong Kong
Mandatory on-arrival COVID-19 testing
Immigration and quarantine requirements
Entry restrictions
If traveling from or have visited a Group A country (quarantine web links) in the past 21 days, only fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents with one of the following travel documents will be permitted to enter Hong Kong:
o bears the “asterisk” or “A” or “R” codes
o bears the “C” code (provided that it is accompanied by a valid work visa or study visa)
o bears the “U” code (Note: this type of HKID is subject to approval from Hong Kong Immigration prior to acceptance at check-in)
If traveling from or have visited a Group B country (see quarantine web links below) in the past 14 days, only Hong Kong residents and fully vaccinated non-Hong Kong residents are allowed to enter Hong Kong.
All passengers (Hong Kong residents and non-Hong Kong residents, regardless of vaccination status) traveling from a Group C country, the Chinese Mainland or Macao (see below) who have not been to any other country / region in the past 14 days, are allowed to enter Hong Kong.
Entry restriction exemptions The following passengers are exempt from the entry restrictions, provided they meet all other required criteria listed as below:
Quarantine measures
Please refer to information on the following websites
https://www.hongkongairport.com/en/COVID19.page
https://www.coronavirus.gov.hk/eng/inbound-travel.html
5 September 2021 , 09:00 hours
Situation updates in Laos
T he lockdown in Laos will continue until September 15, 2021. The lockdown measures have eased as of today and domestic travel is now open.
Shopping malls, retail shops, supermarkets, minimarts, and fresh markets that comply with Covid-19 prevention measures may remain open.
Outdoor exercise and non-contact sporting activities can continue, and golf courses may open while attendants must ensure they are fully vaccinated.
Hairdressers and barbershops that are not in a red zone may open for business, however, they must ensure social distancing can be maintained and must comply with all Covid-19 prevention measures.
Restaurants may now provide dine-in services in green zones, however, tables must be organized at least one meter apart, while service of alcohol is prohibited. Restaurants must strictly comply with all Covid-19 prevention measures.
Schools in provinces without any local transmissions are allowed to resume teaching.
Meetings and conferences may be held in areas that are not red zones with the social distancing of at least one meter. Temperature checks, social distancing, use of facemasks, and handwashing must be enforced.
Email info@la.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
13 August 2021, 09:00 hours
Malaysia National Security Council (MKN) announced the National Recovery Plan with Three Phases.
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Spa / Pedicure and manicure / Pub and night club
Inter-district travel is ALLOWED, but interstate travel is FORBIDDEN.
The reopening of the education section, including schools, public and private institutes of higher learning, training institutes and other educational institutes under the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Housing and Local Government and Ministry of Rural Development and other agencies are to be determined by the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education as well as the Ministry of Health.
The reopening of tourist attractions will be subject to risk assessments, and tight SOP and evaluation will be done by Government, changes and updates are to be announced.
For updates on each States Phase Status , please visit: https://www.malaysia.gov.my/portal/content/31194
Email inbound@my.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
2 May 2021 , 10:00 hours
Travel requirement updates
Please know that amid the increasing infection rates from around the world the Maldives has reversed its recent policy and now state that all arriving tourists and permit holders are required to present a negative PCR test where samples were taken no later than 96 hours from arrival.
The announcement was made by the Health Protection Authority and will be in effect from 3 May 2021 onwards.
The rule shall be strictly enforced and also applies to those who have completed both doses of the COVID-19 vaccines.
The order is to be kept in place until further notice by the health authorities in the nation.
Additional to the above also know that restrictions have been imposed that Indian Nationals will not be allowed to stay in guest houses or any locally inhabited islands until further notice. The official communique’s for the latest information could be found at https://www.tourism.gov.mv/en/circulars
As the situation continues to evolve and change, we shall continue to monitor and update you accordingly.
Email carmen.k@mv.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
1 February 2021 , 11:00 hours
Myanmar Government extended measures to deal with the coronavirus outbreak including the restrictions on movement and a night curfew. A ban on international commercial air traffic and the temporary entry restrictions for travelers from all countries will be extended until further notice .
Email leisure@mm.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
02 September 2021, 19:00 hours
To further prevent introductions of variants of concern to the country, all incoming international travelers in all ports of entry must strictly comply with testing and quarantine protocols approved by the Government. While the borders remains close for tourism The following are allowed to travel and enter the Philippines:
ARRIVING PASSENGERS FROM TRAVEL-RESTRICTED COUNTRIES
Foreign nationals coming from or who have been to travel-restricted countries within the last 14 days shall NOT be allowed entry.
Filipinos arriving under a repatriation program of the government shall undergo an absolute 14-day facility-based quarantine from the date of arrival in the Philippines, with the date of arrival being the 1st day.
ARRIVING PASSENGERS NOT FROM TRAVEL-RESTRICTED COUNTRIES
Provided that the travelers are authorized to enter the country thru relevant resolutions of the IATF-MEID and subjected to existing testing and quarantine protocols issued by the Department of Health (DOH), the following may be allowed entry:
Those who transited or who have a mere lay-over at the airport of travel-restricted countries (lay-over at the airport and with no immigration admission at said countries)
Those NOT coming from travel-restricted countries
Click on this link for more and updated information.
Email sales@ph.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
11 August 2021 , 11:00 hours
In the latest announcement made on 6 August 2021, Singapore will be adopting a vaccination-differentiated approach when adjusting our safe management and border measures. Full Vaccinated individuals will be able to engage in a wider range of activities whereas Unvaccinated individuals will need to exercise tighter safe management measures to protect themselves and those around them.
As of 6 August 2021, 69% of our population has completed their full regimen / received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines under the national vaccination programs and 79% has received at least one dose. In addition, we will progressively review some of our border restrictions to facilitate more travel and introduce vaccination-differentiated border measures for travelers from countries / regions that have shown an ability to control the pandemic and vaccinate large parts of their population.
Short Term visitors traveling from Brunei Darussalam, Mainland China (Excluding Jiangsu province) / New Zealand, and Taiwan may seek entry into Singapore by applying for an Air Travel Pass (ATP).
From 20th Aug 2021, 2359hrs, all fully vaccinated travelers from Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Italy, Norway, Republic of Korea, and Switzerland may be able to apply to opt-out of dedicated SHN facilities and serve their 14-day SHN at their respective places of residence or other suitable accommodation if they fulfill certain criteria.
Looking ahead, when at least 80% of our population have received their full vaccination regimens, we will be able to take the next steps towards further opening up our economy, social activities, and travel.
For more information on travel to Singapore, please visit this website: https://safetravel.ica.gov.sg/
Email: enquiry@sg.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help in adjusting bookings.
Until our next update, please take care and stay safe!
20 August 2021 , 09:31 hours
As communicated by the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka, please note below amended regulations indicated in green;
Travelers with a history of contracting COVID-19
Travelers arriving from India
Countries with a temporary travel restriction to Sri Lanka
South American countries and South African countries (South Africa, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe) will not be permitted to disembark in Sri Lanka until further notice.
Non-vaccinated / not fully vaccinated Indian tourists are currently not permitted via tourist route.
The above will be effective for travelers arriving in Sri Lanka from 00:00 on the 12th of August 2021 and travelers who have already arrived in Sri Lanka.
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In addition to the below protocols which were communicated, please note that travelers who have recovered from COVID-19 traveling to Sri Lanka with one shot of vaccine will be considered as ‘fully vaccinated’. The vaccination certificate should indicate that the vaccination course has been completed following the administration of one dose.
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The Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka has updated a few regulations which are indicated in red for your perusal.
Travelers (2 years and above) to carry a negative COVID-19 PCR test report and the original vaccination card (if applicable) in English done within 72 hours prior to embarkation (Rapid Antigen report is not accepted).
All travelers (2 years and above) should undergo day 1 PCR testing at the Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel. Children below 12 years of age will be exempted if they continue to stay at a Safe & Secure Level 1 hotel.
a) Not Vaccinated / vaccinated with first dose / departed within less than two weeks after completion of recommended doses of vaccination.
* If accompanying travelers of children below 12 years are positive, they will also be subjected to PCR testing subsequently.
The above protocol is effective from 08 July 2021. This will be revised depending on the COVID-19 situation in the country and globally. The above amendments indicated in red will be effective from 17 July 2021 onwards.
Changes indicated in Green is effective from 19th August 2021.
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(source: https://srilanka.travel/helloagain/documents/Health_Protocols_for_Arrival__to_Sri_Lanka.pdf ).
Before applying for visa ensure you have the following.
________________________________________________________________________________
COVID-19 Situation Update in Sri Lanka (as at 4 May 2021)
As a precautionary measure to curb the recent spike in COVID positive numbers locally, the Government together with the Health Ministry of Sri Lanka are imposing lockdowns in selected areas in the country.
As a result, planned excursions or travel to any of these cities will be subject to change without prior notice and substituted with other suitable travel plans. However, in any case, these changes will be communicated to the relevant partners to keep you updated at all times.
Kindly contact your Account Manager should you need any clarification on the above and we will keep you posted on the latest developments if any.
______________________________________________________________________________
Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) together with the Ministry of Health has laid out safety protocols and for your ease of understanding of all this information, the Tourism officials have segregated these under multiple headings under ‘things you need to know’, prior to making plans to visit Sri Lanka.
The headings containing hyperlinks on the website https://www.srilanka.travel/helloagain/ will easily direct you to the documents comprising important information (note: this information gets updated frequently).
Sri Lanka reopened its airports (Bandaranaike International Airport and Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport) for international travelers from January 21, 2021.
Sri Lanka received the Safe Travel Stamp from World Travel and Tourism Council, reflective of the sound protocol implemented by Sri Lanka Tourism. One such protocol was awarding the ‘Safe and Secure Certification’ for Tourism service providers, which Diethelm Travel Sri Lanka was able to obtain, after completing a thorough assessment of the safety initiatives established by us, as a responsible DMC.
Email sales@lk.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
23 June 2021 , 14:00 hours
Complete Guide to Thailand’s Phuket Sandbox Program
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has confirmed that Thailand will begin welcoming vaccinated international travelers to Phuket starting 1 July 2021 without quarantine requirements as part of a program called “Phuket Sandbox.”
Visitors will be required to stay in Phuket for at least 14 nights –– in a hotel approved by the Safety and Health Administration Plus (SHA +) –– after which they are free to travel around the Kingdom.
Who is eligible for the Phuket Sandbox program
Travelers who are qualified and equipped with the required documents are advised to submit application for the Certificate of Entry (COE) via www.entrythailand.go.th .
Arrival
Stay
For traveling from Phuket or Samui-Phangan-Tao to other Thai destinations, travelers are required to show proof that they have completed a 14-night stay along with the other required documents per the guidelines and measures announced by the respective province of destination.
Email sales@th.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
19 October 2020 , 13:30 hours
Since the start of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Vietnam has closely monitored the situation and installed a series of proactive, comprehensive measures to combat the spread of the virus within the country and prepare its public health facilities.
The large majority of COVID-19 patients have recovered and were released from the hospital. Vietnam has not had any new community transmission cases since 2 September 2020. The latest confirmed cases involve people who arrived in Vietnam with COVID-19 and were sent directly to quarantine and isolated for treatment.
The reason why Vietnam has managed to keep patients from death’s door is down to a three-pronged government strategy. Firstly, temperature screening and testing started in February. These measures are now mandatory for everyone entering major cities and some provinces by land too, and for everyone entering a government building or hospital. The second prong of Vietnam’s approach was quarantined for suspected cases from epidemic areas or have had direct contact with returnees from epidemic areas and lockdowns whole cities and specific areas in a city. Thirdly, it was the Vietnamese government’s constant communications widely to citizens about the seriousness of the coronavirus and the launch of online management and administration center for COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment.
The Vietnamese government continues to suspend entry into Vietnam to all foreigners. There are limited exemptions for diplomatic, official duty, and special cases, including experts, business managers and foreign investors.
Recently Vietnam has decided to summarize commercial air routes to specific airports (Guangzhou, Taiwan, Seoul, Tokyo, Phnom Penh and Vientiane), only Vietnamese nationals and individuals in the aforementioned exempted categories and their family members may enter Vietnam. Individuals in these categories will have to present a certificate of negative COVID-19 RT-PCR testing report issued within the three days prior to departure. For detailed information about flight frequency and designated quarantine sites, please see the Vietnamese government’s website here .
Email sales@vn.diethelmtravel.com for more information or help adjusting bookings.
Q: What is Diethelm Travel’s refund policy regarding booking changes or cancellations due to COVID-19?
A: We understand that traveling during this time is unpredictable and want to give you and your clients peace of mind when planning future journeys.
Book any Diethelm Travel product now until the end of October 2021 with the option to cancel for a full refund – no questions asked – for travel through 31 December 2021.
Note: Some flights and select hotels / products with limited capacity may be exempt as well as travel during peak periods.
Q: Who can I contact at Diethelm Travel for more information regarding travel updates, booking changes or new developments?
A: If you’re already in contact with one of our country-specific sales representatives, please feel free to reach out to them directly.
For all other questions, general inquiries or questions about our new booking and cancellation policy, please contact sales@diethelmtravel.com .
Q: What health and safety precautions are Diethelm Travel taking?
A: The safety of our guests and employees across Asia is always our number one priority. In addition to our already stringent health and safety procedures, our enhanced health & hygiene protocols can be found HERE .
Q: What should travelers do to protect themselves while traveling?
A: At this time, we recommend that travelers take general, common-sense precautions to minimize their risk. (They are smart practices any time when traveling!)
Q: Where can I find trusted information regarding COVID-19?
A: We recommend the following international organizations:
Q: Where can I find more country-specific information regarding travel restrictions, country policies or on-the-ground updates?
A: Information, policies and procedures are changing daily. It is best to regularly check countries’ official government websites and tourism board websites for the latest information. We will also be emailing relevant important information and updating this page as necessary.