Singapore is opening up to the world again – but only for select business travellers on short stays.
The Connect@Singapore initiative is a new segregated business travel scheme available to a ‘limited number’ of people deemed as official and of high economic value .
It is open to people from any country and applications will open in mid-January 2021, said Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing.
“Global travel, especially global business travel has been severely impacted by the need for quarantine measures, and many people in different countries cannot meet each other for business activities,” he said.
“The idea is for business people to come into Singapore for up to a period of 14 days. During these 14 days, they will undergo the necessary routine medical checks to provide themselves the assurance that they are safe and also to provide the assurance to their meeting partners.”
Travellers under the scheme will be accommodated in dedicated facilities, and undergo regular testing during the stay.
The first Connect@Changi pilot short-stay facility will launch in the first quarter of 2021 at Singapore EXPO, located close to the airport.
Meetings will take place on site with more than 600 guest rooms and about 170 meeting rooms available.
The initiative will operate alongside other business travel schemes it has with specific countries including China and Indonesia.
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Written by Ray Montgomery, Asia Editor
