Countries slow to lower their travel barriers for Taiwan

Ten countries have dropped travel warnings against Taiwan in light of the retreating SARS outbreak in the country, leaving 37 still maintaining different levels of travel advisories, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday.

These 10 countries are Singapore, Ireland, Australia, Israel, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, Germany, Chili and France.

In the ministry's updated list of SARS-related travel restrictions against Taiwan passport holders and travel warning against the country, 11 countries still advise their nationals not to travel to Taiwan.

These 11 countries include New Zealand, Palau, Russia, United Arab Emirates, Spain, Norway, Poland, Romania, Malawi, Swaziland and Lithuania.

Another 13 countries -- including Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, Brunei, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Hungary, Colombia, Belarus, Qatar, Kuwait and Brazil -- suggested deferring travel.

In addition, 13 nations advised their nationals to postpone non-essential trips, the ministry said. Those 13 are Canada, the US, Turkey, Italy, Luxemburg, Papua New Guinea, , Estonia, Austria, Belgium, Iceland, Mongolia, Latvia and Jordan.

Some 34 countries have maintained various entry restrictions on Taiwanese nationals.

While Palau has lifted its ban on visitors from Taiwan, the Fiji Islands is still asking Taiwanese passport holders to present a SARS-free health certificate when applying for a visa, the ministry said.