Tourism in the Solomon Islands is certainly pleased with Prime Minister Manasseh Sogaware’s announcement that the country’s borders will be fully reopened on July 1, 2022. But it turned out that not everything is so simple for foreigners.
Formally, the easing of restrictions means that from this date – July 1 – foreign citizens can re-enter the country.
However, restrictive health measures remain in place: all arriving travelers must submit a negative PCR test within 72 hours before crossing the border, and upon arrival – 12 hours are allotted – receive a negative rapid antigen test result.
Further. Entry into the country from abroad will be allowed only to those tourists who have completed a full course of vaccination. The exception is children, and that is because they cannot be vaccinated.
The current quarantine period for international travelers is 14 days, but this will be reduced to six days on July 1. But that’s not all: after its completion, foreigners will have to stay in the capital Honiara until the end of quarantine measures, that is, three more days. After that, you have to pass another rapid test, and if the result is negative, you can start resting according to your plan.
More than 80 percent of Solomon Islands tour operators, hoteliers, and resort staff have completed the ‘Additional Precautions on Tourism Minimum Standards’ training and have implemented safe COVID-19 protocols in preparation for the reopening of borders.