PASAY CITY -- The Bureau of Immigration (BI) said that it is hopeful that the eased travel restrictions will increase the number of travelers to the Philippines.

According to BI Commissioner Jaime Morente, the lifting of the negative RT-PCR requirement for arriving passengers who have received their full primary series of Covid19 vaccine and at least one booster shot will encourage more travelers to visit the country.

Also lifted was the travel insurance requirement for arriving passengers. However, while not required, health authorities said that it remains highly recommended.

“With this development, travel will be easier in the new normal,” said Morente.

“We hope that this will boost the number of international arrivals in the next few months,” he added.

Morente shared that during the summer season, the BI recorded around 15,000 total arrivals per day.

“The arrivals have steadily increased since February, but has plateaued at the tail end of summer,” he reported.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) has earlier advised that effective May 30, fully vaccinated foreign nationals with booster shot are exempted from the negative RT-PCR test requirement.

Also exempted are fully vaccinated children aged 12 to 17, and those aged below 12, regardless of vaccination status.

“We are hoping that little by little, the country’s international tourism sector can once again flourish as we move towards the new normal,” said Morente. (BI)