Changi Airport COVID-19 Arrival Rules

I knew things wouldn’t be easy for international travellers with all the COVID restrictions, mandates and directives, which aren’t all the same everywhere, but after watching the YouTube video “Guide to on-arrival procedures at Changi Airport” released (on December 9) by Changi Airport, it truly demoralised me. It put me off travelling to Singapore, a place I love visiting.

Now these are the rules required for entry into Singapore and not for those in transit at the airport which I understand are more relaxed, however there’s no mention what happens if someone tests positive and has to quarantine. Where will they do this, if it is a specified hotel(s) or in a purpose built facility and how long for and how much it is going to cost? Also this video only mentions arrivals (immigration) not departures (emigration) and what is required there. As a visitor to Singapore or even a local wanting to fly out one has to know this as well.

A few weeks earlier Singapore Airlines asked me if I could do a survey on the COVID-19 rules and when should the traveller be notified about them and how long after purchasing a ticket. Basically I’m not fussed about Singapore Airlines and the flying part, they are a great airline, and what they implement onboard. This would apply to the grand majority of the better airlines that put health and safety of their passengers first. They will all implement similar protocols. So the airlines themselves are not the issue as long as they are not mandated to do tests etc., on their passengers.

I would rather know the rules way before I purchase a ticket. Whether the countries visited will stick to the directives or change them in future. I don’t want to see things getting worse for travellers. Decisions need to be based on medical evidence and sound science and not motivated by politics. We don’t need more control by politicians.

Singapore has always been pretty strict and well policed, but if these rules are implemented internationally, then yes it will be another headache for travellers, to say the least.

Update: The COVID-19 situation has always been fluid, so changes are inevitable. Directives and restrictions have been eased since my opinion piece. It’s just I have had little time to update the situation regarding Singapore. Hopefully like in the rest of the world where the dominoes have been gradually falling, travel will get back to some kind of normality without the probing and extra checks.