The phrase ‘Travel Bubble’ is being used more frequently as borders around the world begin to open up and welcome travelers. The travel bubble refers to an arrangement that allows for people to freely travel between countries, sometimes without having to take part in the quarantine period.
The phrase travel bubble is most common but it can also be referred to as travel corridors, air bridges, and air bubbles. A travel bubble allows for international travel during a time of crisis between two or more countries.
Travel bubbles can be broken down into two different categories. Free travel bubbles and limited travel bubbles, according to Simple Flying.
Free Travel Bubbles
A free travel bubble allows passengers to travel from one country to another without having to subject themselves to a mandatory quarantine period. An example of a free travel bubble would be the European Union. Current regulations allow for intra-EU travel, along with travelers from 14 low-risk countries, including Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand just to name a few. This means citizens from these countries, or those currently living in the EU, can pack their bags and hop on a flight to anywhere in the EU with close to zero restrictions.
Limited Travel Bubbles
As you would imagine, countries with limited travel bubbles limit the number of foreigners entering their borders. This means the criteria for visiting these countries is limited to important business work. Visitors will also be subjected to testing on arrival, and in some cases, like that of Taiwan, a 14-day quarantine period.
Other countries like India for example has used the limited travel bubble agreement to restart limited bilateral travel between countries like UAE, US, France, Kuwait. This allows for the return of long-term residents and citizens, or for those looking to travel for employment or education purposes. The limited travel bubble has granted countries like India the ability to restart international travel in a safe manner.
Seeing as South Africa’s COIVD-19 infection count continues to rise, international travel both in and out of the country is still restricted. Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane announced on June 30 that Cabinet will extend the curfew to 10pm and that leisure travel within your own province is allowed. Inter-provincial leisure travel however is still not allowed.
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