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Bloomberg
Singapore has started taking applications for a program that will allow people to enter the island for business and official purposes without having to quarantine for 14 days. The catch? They’ll have to stay in a bubble-like facility near Changi Airport, and can’t leave.
The first visitors under the so-called Connect@Changi program are expected to arrive next month, Alan Thompson, joint head of strategic development at Temasek International, said. Temasek Holdings Pte, Singapore’s state investment firm, is supporting the initiative.
“The economy was hurting, the aviation industry was hurting, the food and beverage and hospitality industry was hurting — we needed something
to kickstart the economy,†Thompson said. The purpose-built facility will “allow business meetings to happen that will then enable travel to happen and gradually we will be able to get business as close to
normal†under these kind of
circumstances.
Singapore’s small and open economy is largely dependent upon the tourism and service sectors for growth. To that end, it’s been trying to reopen its borders by establishing green lanes and special travel arrangements with countries where the virus is also contained, like New Zealand and Vietnam. But second and third waves in various places combined with the protracted
vaccine rollouts mean widespread travel is still likely months away.
Regardless, authorities are keen to position Singapore, which has done a good job of containing Covid, as a prime spot for meetings, events, conferences and exhibitions. Connect@Changi will be among options available when Singapore hosts the World Economic Forum later this year, Thompson said.
The facility will initially have 150 guestrooms and 40 meeting rooms, rising to 660 and 170, respectively, when the first phase is completed in May.