Singapore, South Korea in exploratory talks on air travel bubble since March

Singapore is said to be one of the top choices for South Korea to launch a travel bubble with. The Straits Times understands that the two countries started "very preliminary, exploratory talks at the working level" in March. This came after South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki said during a meeting that the government will seek to create travel bubbles with other countries in order to revive air travel, which has been badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic. A travel bubble is an agreement between two or more countries to allow their people to travel without strict quarantine. Several countries are being considered, according to a South Korean Health Ministry official. Industry sources have named Singapore among potential partners that also include New Zealand, Taiwan, Guam and Saipan. Singapore has ongoing air travel pass (ATP) agreements with China, Brunei, New Zealand and Australia, excluding the state of Victoria. This means people from these countries are allowed to enter Singapore as short-term visitors after isolating up to 48 hours upon arrival, while waiting for their Covid-19 test results. The Republic had intended to launch its first bilateral air travel bubble with Hong Kong last November, but it has been postponed twice due to a surge in Covid-19 cases, first in Hong Kong and, more recently, in Singapore. ATPs with Taiwan and Vietnam have been suspended.<br/>