Forty-nine countries have imposed different levels of travel advisories against travels to Taiwan, while 35 having begun entry restrictions on Taiwanese, despite signs that SARS is retreating in Taiwan, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday.
As of Monday, the ministry said, 13 countries have advised their nationals not to travel to Taiwan, while 14 suggested deferring travel and another 22 have advised their nationals to postpone non-essential trips.
Vietnam has suspended the issuance of all visas to Republic of China (ROC) passport holders, the ministry said. Vietnam had originally only suspended issuance of tourist visas to Taiwanese.
Meanwhile, Royal Brunei Airlines has canceled all flights between Taipei and Brunei until the end of next month, following the oil-rich state's decision to suspend the issuance of visas to travelers from SARS-affected areas, including Taiwan.
Jan de Vries, general manager of the airline's branch office in Taipei, said that Brunei's decision to stop issuing visas to people from SARS-affected areas paired with the dwindling number of travelers has driven the company to suspend all flights between Taiwan and Brunei.
"Sometime in July, they'll decide when to resume the flights," de Vries said.
The Middle Eastern states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Turkey, as well as the island nations of Mauritius and Barbados have temporarily stopped issuing visas or entry permits to ROC passport holders, the ministry said.
Taiwanese intending to visit the western Pacific islands of Palau should note that the country has banned the entry of all travelers who have visited SARS-affected areas in the past 14 days, the ministry said.
The South American republic of Paraguay has not stopped issuing visas, but has requested that all travelers from SARS-affected areas be escorted by nurse and taken to the palce where they are staying. After arriving at their lodgings, the travelers are to be placed under a four-day supervised home quarantine.
The Czech Republic, on the other hand, has denied that travelers from Taiwan would receive a 10-day quarantine. However, Prague's health ministry has advised visitors that upon arrival they should get a free checkup at a clinic located in the Praha-Ruzyne airport.
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