Guam launches vaccine tourism

Dhaka: In a bid to revive the tourism industry, Guam Visitors Bureau is offering Air V&V — a programme for travellers interested in receiving the Covid-19 vaccine while vacationing in Guam.

The Air V&V programme offers visitors the administration of the vaccine (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, or Johnson and Johnson/Janssen), Covid-19 tests as need, and digital vaccination records. Participants can also enjoy concierge medical service in the comfort of their hotel while enjoying the beautiful island of Guam.

Travellers aged 12 years and above can avail the programme. Starting from July 4, 2021, all incoming visitors, except for fully vaccinated travellers and passengers who present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival in Guam, must undergo quarantine.

Reports claimed that hundreds of Taiwanese are flying to Guam to take part in the programme. As Taiwan is struggling to procure Covid-19 vaccines, some people cannot wait and book trips to the US just to get jabs.

According to reports, Taiwanese travel agency Lion Travel till now had sold about 600 five-day package tours to Guam, and two of the biweekly flights to that destination were fully booked. Travel packages do not cover the cost of the three Covid-19 tests and two vaccine shots, which total USD 880 per person under Guam’s Air V&V programme.

Travellers who wish to be vaccinated must register at airvandv.guamcovid.com. Eligible travellers can obtain a Covid-19 vaccine shot the day after their arrival and freely tour the country after that.

Thanks to vaccine tourism, travel companies are anticipating the rise of travellers flying abroad for vaccines and book quarantine hotels upon their return.