Asian markets soar as China shortens the COVID-19 quarantine period for international visitors

inbound passengers waiting to be taken to quarantine-designated destinations

In a significant relaxation of one of the tightest COVID-19 limitations, China has cut the length of the quarantine period for incoming tourists by half.

The period of quarantine in centralized facilities has been shortened from 14 to seven days, and the subsequent period of at-home health monitoring has been shortened from seven to three days.

The most recent health authority recommendations also relaxed quarantine rules for persons who are near those who have tested positive for COVID-19. In addition, the three-week quarantine period that had been in effect throughout the epidemic, according to the authorities, has been reduced to ten days.

Tourism updates

This month, the Chinese aviation authority said that it has been in contact with a few nations to gradually raise the number of flights in the second half of 2022.

The Disneyland theme park, which had been closed for more than three months, would reopen on 30 June at the Shanghai Disney Resort. Experts in the industry predict that this year’s summer travel season will be buzzier than previous year’s due to the increased confidence being generated by the circumstances aimed at reducing the risk of outbreaks.

woman and daughter poses at Shanghai Disneyland

Image Credits: latimes.com

An uptick in Asian markets

On 28 June, most Asian markets recovered some of their earlier losses, and oil maintained its current uptrend after China shortened the visitor quarantine period, stoking hopes for a lifeline to the faltering economy.

The Hang Seng Index reversed losses and increased by around 0.4 percent, and the CSI300 Index increased by about 0.7 percent, leading to gains in the stock markets in China and Hong Kong. Seoul, Tokyo, and Shanghai turned up after spending the morning of 28 June in red, and there were also increases in Manila and Bangkok.

Inflation and interest rates will probably take a good turn

Some observers continue to be somewhat cheerful as the second half of the year draws near, even though the inflation and interest rate situation is still a concern, made worse by the conflict in Ukraine.

Although the first half of 2022 is the worst since 1970, a market expert pointed out that history shows that when the first half of the year is down at least 15 percent, the second half of the year is usually always up, with an average yield of 24 percent.

Another person said that dealers had already taken into account a considerable portion of the anticipated economic deterioration. It is possible for inflation concerns to be reduced gradually and for a “U-shaped” recovery to be driven by a slowdown rather than a recession.

And if there’s a tip for investors, that would be for individuals to concentrate on low-cost, defensive investments while addressing any risks in the midst of it all.

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These are the downsides of traveling you should be aware of

Man holding his head on the plane

You can retreat through travel.

Occasionally, you just need to go away, whether it’s from a toxic relationship, a job you despise, or simply a monotonous, inactive lifestyle.

Yes, a change of environment can help you get over fatigue or melancholy, and being far away from the mess or stress factor might help you see it from a different perspective. But there’s no disputing that a coin always has two sides.

As the world opens up and people are packing their suitcases, these are the downsides of traveling you should be aware of.

Costly

Flights and accommodation can be costly unless you are willing to compromise with your trip dates and sacrifice your schedule and convenience. Another factor to bear in mind is that pricing for essential items like food, lodging, and transportation can change significantly from what we’re used to in sunny Singapore.

Jet lags

While many individuals mistake jet lag for just being extremely sleepy, it is a condition that occurs when your innate body clock becomes out of rhythm as a result of traveling across time differences. Jet lag can cause sleepiness or irritability, as well as difficulty resting sufficiently for some folks. Your body system may experience upsets as a result of this.

Health issues
a woman with a flu

Image Credits: theprofessionalmassageacademy.com

Though it can occur anywhere else in the universe, it occurs far more frequently when abroad. The explanation for this is that we are constantly confronted with new stimuli, which weakens our resistance to infection. Traveling exposes us to germs and viruses from all over the world, some of which are not exactly pleasant.

Disrupted routines

When you’re at home, your day has a set schedule and direction. You know what to anticipate and appreciate consistency. Traveling, unfortunately, is a fantastic way to disrupt this. And perhaps that’s a beneficial move… after all, we could do with a little spice now and then, yeah?

But what if you have strict dietary restrictions to keep up with? Or perhaps require certain hours of snooze to perform adequately? Norms and behavioral patterns can be beneficial at times, though we easily take them for granted. But because of the volatility and uncertainty of travel, comforting routines can be tough to maintain.

Traveling, without a doubt, aids in the expansion of perspectives while also allowing people to understand more about diverse cultures. We recognize, nevertheless, that travel, with its various uncontrollable circumstances, may sometimes be somewhat of a headache for some. If you’re still excited to plan that forthcoming trip, despite the drawbacks we’ve discussed in this article, go ahead! Just be sure to research in-depth before stepping into foreign lands. COVID-19 has changed the world very much, so unless you tread with an open mind, you might be rudely shocked to see the changes.

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Tips to pack light for traveling

travelers at Changi Airport

When you pack light, you have greater freedom. You can effortlessly navigate through populated areas, zip through luggage claims, schedule last-minute arrangements without stressing about what to do with your belongings, and reduce the time spent lugging around your baggage if you’re shifting from hotel to hotel.

Traveling light is even more important given that many carriers impose penalties for suitcases that exceed dimensions or weight limits. Packing minimally for adventures may appear challenging at first, but as with any new skill, the more you do it, the more you learn and adapt.

This article gives you tips on how to pack light for traveling.

Wash it

Concentrate on pieces that dry swiftly and are simple to clean. If you’re going in the warmer months and it’s humid, you could consider washing your socks, gym clothing, undergarments, and possibly a couple of lightweight tops. If you’re staying in an Airbnb, make sure there’s at least one with a washer. If not, the bathroom sink will suffice.

Use organizers

To save room and keep your belongings orderly, roll your garments and use compression sacks or zip-lock bags. Loading with organizers allows you to quickly locate what you need without needing to rummage through your entire luggage. Also, compression bags flatten items by eliminating extra air, but be careful not to overpack.

Write a packing list
a packing list and a luggage

Image Credits: theportablewife.com

One of the most common mistakes people do while packing is taking out their luggage, packing what they need, and then adding more items they don’t need all in the name of having extra space. Make a checklist for yourself a few days before your vacation and keep to it. If you’re not sure what to bring since you’re clueless about what the trip needs, seek a packing list available on the web.

Wear the bulky items

Wear it instead of packing it if you require something substantial, such as a winter jacket. Carry your coat when going on a trip during wintertime. If bringing a coat for boarding is unfeasible, don’t bring one at all. When you arrive, buy an affordable piece and then dispose of it when you depart.

Hoodies and overcoats are the same way. We suggest omitting them in favor of the thinner ones. However, you can carry a thick sweater on cold-weather travels provided you wear it while in transit. Knits and hooded sweatshirts are ideal for chilly plane rides. Just don’t take up any of your valuable packing space with them.

Traveling light doesn’t have to mean losing coziness or fashion sense, but it does necessitate reconsidering travel items like coats and footwear. When it comes to preparing for a trip, minor increments like a kilogram here or there can quickly mount up. Whether you’re trying to travel with only a carry-on or simply want to reduce the size of your checked luggage, the packing recommendations in this article can assist.

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Why does time fly when you’re having fun?

a masked lady with a luggage

Why does time seem to fly while you’re having fun yet drag on for eons when you’re bored?

Well, the brain’s perception of time is influenced by its preconceptions. As a result, when you take a look back, the perceived timeframe of an occurrence is influenced by how the brain encoded the experience.

Everything seems new while you’re a kid, therefore your brain creates complex networks to retain those happenings. Yet, as a grownup, you’ve seen a lot more, so these occurrences don’t elicit similar recollections. As a consequence, time seems to fly by as you become older.

Tricky, huh? That’s just the tip of the iceberg. Let’s delve further into why time seems to fly when you’re having fun.

Memory retrieval

When it comes to recollection, we have a different perception of time than when it comes to actual occurrences. When you recall similar events from memory some months later, your impressions of them are frequently flipped.

For instance, while you’re on holiday and having a good time, the days seem to fly past. Conversely, if you’re at work, the hours may seem to pass by sluggishly. But as you look back on those tedious days that appeared to drag on as you lived them, they appear to have passed quickly. Your trip, on the other extreme, will appear to have lasted far longer than it did thanks to how the brain retrieves memories.

Brain anticipation
a guy packing for his trip

Image Credits: vox.com

According to research, our brains interpret time passing more quickly during some activities, particularly joyful occurrences. Pleasant situations, such as a planned vacation, are perceived to be further away than they are.

Someone’s getaway to Bali, for example, may be only a weekend away, but it feels like a full week. Furthermore, people believe that pleasing activities, such as vacations, persist for a shorter period than unfavorable activities. People often feel that their trip abroad is over as immediately as it starts, due to the lengthy wait for it to begin and the anticipation that it will fly past before they realize it.

Approach motivation

As per prior studies, many individuals believe that time passes faster when they are undergoing happy emotions or situations than when they are completely dejected. Nonetheless, not all positive moods are created equal.

Although satisfaction and peacefulness are pleasant emotions, they do not rank particularly high in what specialists refer to as approach motivation. Passion and enthusiasm, on the contrary, are considered strong in approach motivation since they motivate people to act on something. Simply said, when people are in high-approach motivation stages, they sense as if time is flying by.

In essence, whenever you’re bored or doing something you don’t want to be doing, your mind is free to roam. When your mind wanders, it frequently turns to the clock, as you consider how much more the seconds must pass before you can escape your predicament. But when you’re pleasantly immersed in something you like, your attention tends to be completely concentrated on the delight you’re experiencing. You aren’t as concerned about the progression of time because you are savoring the present moment. Intriguing, isn’t it?

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Singapore’s latest entry policy

Singapore residents crossing the road

VTL entry

As of midnight on March 3, the Civil Aviation Authority has issued 348,518 Vaccinator Passes (VTPs) to travellers from 30 countries and territories, and 456,215 people have entered Singapore through the VTL so far.

Currently: Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Denmark, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Maldives, Netherlands, Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States, Hong Kong, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Israel and Philippines

In the future, Singapore will expand the Vaccinator Travel Gateway VTL programme to more cities in Malaysia, Indonesia and India, and launch VTL programmes with Greece and Vietnam.

From 16 March, Singapore’s airline VTL scheme with Malaysia will be extended to Penang with four return VTL flights daily, and Indonesia’s airline VTL scheme will be extended to Bali on the same day with two daily VTL flights to Singapore.

Travellers from Greece and Vietnam will also be able to enter Singapore under the VTL scheme from March 16 onwards. Short-term travellers and work permit holders who wish to enter the country under the scheme can apply for a Vaccinator Pass from 10am on 13 March.

Border measures

The Singapore Ministry of Health has released a number of policies to continue to liberalise Singapore’s border measures! Firstly, border measures will be simplified by standardising the home notification period to seven days.

Existing Category 2, Category 3 and Category 4 countries and territories will be categorised as General Travel, while those requiring stricter border measures will be categorised as Restricted, although no countries or territories currently fall under the latter category.

Under the General Travel category, all travellers arriving from 11.59 pm on the 21st will only have to fulfil a seven-day home notification, as the incubation period for Omicron is shorter. Travellers who have completed their vaccinations and entered via VTL, as well as those from Category 1 countries or territories, will continue to be exempt from quarantine. The travel history of travellers will also be reduced from 14 days to seven days.

Instead of having to undergo a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test upon arrival, VTL and travellers from Category 1 countries or territories will be able to undergo a supervised Rapid Antigen Test (ART) at one of the testing centres across the island within 24 hours of entry into the country.

In addition to work permit holders, vaccinated long-term document holders will no longer be required to obtain a Vaccinator Travel Permit (VTP) or entry permit upon entry into the country. However, they will still be required to comply with border health measures upon entry.

The Health Minister pointed out that following the end of the Omicron outbreak, Singapore should gradually transition to allow all vaccinated travellers to be exempted from quarantine and no longer require the Vaccinator Travel Track (VTL).

He also noted that imported cases now account for about 1% of the total number of daily cases. The authorities are now concerned whether travellers entering Singapore are sufficiently protected so that they do not place a burden on the local healthcare system. In practice, therefore, there should be less emphasis on home notification and testing of travellers, and instead ensure that they complete their vaccinations and additional doses.

 

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