THE Philippines will no longer require a pre-departure Covid-19 test for boosted inbound travellers from May 30, as part of measures to revive its pandemic-hit economy.

Tourism secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat said the move will encourage more people to visit the country and “make it more convenient for tourists”, reported Xinhua.

“All types of vaccination certificates, regardless of country of origin, will be accepted.

“The Tourism Department sees this development as a win-win situation, as more tourists will yield more revenues for small businesses and restore more jobs and livelihoods in the sector.”

She said travel insurance “is no longer required, but highly encouraged for inbound passengers”.

More than 500,000 tourists visited the country from February 10, when the government allowed foreign travellers to enter.

Canada, South Korea and the United States are among the top foreign tourist markets during this period.

“The government is looking forward to an uptick in arrivals in the coming weeks, following the further easing of entry requirements,” said Romulo-Puyat.

The Philippines now has more than 3.68 million reported Covid-19 cases, and more than 60,000 deaths. – Bernama, May 27, 2022.