Air Travel Bubble Between Singapore And Hong Kong
On 15 October 2020, Singapore Transport Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung announced the very first two-way air travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong, which would allow leisure travel between the two places without the need to quarantine for 14 days. According to Minister Ong Ye Kung, this is a “small yet significant step” to revive the two aviation hubs which have been badly hit since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in January 2020. With guidance from your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore, discuss the significance of this new travel arrangement between Singapore and Hong Kong. Currently, only essential business and official travel is allowed between the two places and travellers must be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival.
Low Risk In Singapore And Hong Kong
As of 16 October 2020, Hong Kong reported a total of 5,238 cases and 105 deaths. Number of new cases had been kept at a low level. Singapore reported a total of 57,904 cases and 28 deaths, with less than 10 new cases daily for the past few weeks. The governments of both Singapore and Hong Kong have been exemplary in handling the Covid-19 pandemic by implementing strict social distancing rules in the community. Despite the relatively low risk, precautions will be taken to prevent a possible new spike of Covid-19 cases arising from the resumption of air travel between the two places, which include an immediate suspension of such arrangement. You may discuss with your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class the success factors for Singapore and Hong Kong.
Though there will be no restrictions on type of travellers, their purposes of travel and itineraries, travellers must be tested negative for Covid-19 before their scheduled flights. Coronavirus PCR test is priced at $186 in Singapore while the price of a similar test in Hong Kong can be much lower. In consultation with your economics tutor Singapore in economics tuition Singapore, explain the importance to bring down the cost of Coronavirus PCR test in Singapore.
Other Efforts To Resume Air Travel
Apart from Singapore, Hong Kong has plans to resume air travel with other countries such as Australia, Japan and Thailand. Tourism is a key sector in Hong Kong contributing about 4.5 per cent of its GDP. The sector also employs 6.6 per cent of the city’s total workforce, which is about 257,000 people. You may consult your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class about the economic implications of air travel suspension in Hong Kong.
Singapore has also entered into different agreements with other countries in a bid to revive its aviation industry. These include unilateral opening with Australia, Brunei, New Zealand and Vietnam, bilateral green lane for essential business and official travel with Brunei, China, Indonesia (from 26 October 2020), Japan, Malaysia and South Korea. Given the current situation in Indonesia, discuss with your economics tutor Singapore in economics tuition Singapore whether it is a wise move to enter into a bilateral green lane arrangement with Indonesia. You may sign up for economics tuition Singapore with a reputable economics tutor Singapore should you need help in this subject.
To date, there has been more than 39 million Covid-19 cases across 215 countries in the world, with 1.1 million deaths. The United States of America has been leading the Covid-19 Dashboard with over 8.2 million cases and over 220,000 deaths. The confirmed cases include among others, President Donald Trump and the first lady, together with other key White House officials. India ranks second with over 7.4 million cases and over 110,000 deaths, followed by Brazil.
Linda Geng
Economics Tuition Singapore @ Economics Cafe
Principal Economics Tutor: Mr. Edmund Quek