● 新加坡準備好與澳洲設立旅遊氣泡，重啟旅遊活動。圖為新加坡樟宜機場。 影片截圖【原文】下文摘錄自香港《文匯報》3月15日︰
澳洲（Australia）政府官員3月14日透露，正與新加坡（Singapore）討論設立雙邊「旅遊氣泡」（travel bubble），預計最快7月可以恢復兩國旅遊通行，除了允許已接種新冠疫苗的兩國國民互相往來外，澳洲亦期望新加坡可成為「中轉國」，讓第三國家民眾可在新加坡隔離後再轉往澳洲。
澳洲副總理麥科馬克（Michael McCormack）3月14日向澳洲廣播公司（Australian Broadcasting Corporation，ABC）透露，當局目前正與新加坡合作，有望在7月展開「旅遊氣泡」，又稱隨着澳洲和其他國家逐步展開疫苗接種計劃（vaccination program），將可以與更多國家啟動旅遊氣泡。
《悉尼先驅晨報》（The Sydney Morning Herald）及《時代報》（The Age）亦引述政府知情人士報道澳星旅遊氣泡的詳情，按照計劃，已打針的新加坡及澳洲公民，在旅遊氣泡下來往兩地將毋須隔離（quarantine）檢疫，兩國將互相承認對方的電子疫苗接種證明，相關計劃亦可能納入已經與澳洲有旅遊氣泡安排的新西蘭（New Zealand）。
澳洲自從新冠疫情在全球大流行（pandemic）以來，便實施嚴格邊境防疫措施，非本國公民若沒有特別理由，基本不可入境，即使本國國民獲准入境，亦需接受14天隔離，加上大幅收緊入境航班載客人數，造成約4萬名澳洲公民滯留（strand）海外。因此澳洲政府亦期望海外留學生、商務人士等來自第三國民眾，可在新加坡接受隔離後，再轉往澳洲。
新加坡總理李顯龍（Lee Hsien Loong）3月14日接受電視訪問時，則表示期望在各國愈來愈多人接種疫苗下，可以制訂在今年底之前逐步重開邊境的計劃。
新加坡交通部長王乙康（Ong Ye Kung）3月12日時同樣提到，只要有其他國家願意，新加坡準備好與對方設立旅遊氣泡，重啟旅遊活動，目標在今年實現。王乙康又指，新加坡其實已經單方面（unilaterally）向澳洲、新西蘭及中國等疫情受控的國家開放邊境，措施並未在新加坡引發社區感染（transmission），只要這些國家亦向新加坡開放邊境，便等同形成「旅遊氣泡」。對於今年的旅遊產業發展，王乙康指個人及觀光旅遊有望在今年下半年恢復（recovery），不過強調相關說法只是「推測」（speculation）。
新加坡航空（Singapore Airlines）則從3月15日開始，測試國際航空運輸協會（IATA）（International Air Transport Association）的電子旅行通行證（travel pass），在3月15日至28日間，在來往新加坡與英國倫敦（London）的航班測試，乘客下載相關手機應用程式，便可提交病毒檢測結果或已經接種疫苗證明，預期可縮短及簡化登機手續。
Australia aiming to include Singapore in air travel bubble plan as quarantine station
【譯文】Australian government officials said on 14 March that the country was discussing with Singapore to create a "travel bubble" between the two nations as early as July, allowing Singaporeans and Australians who had been vaccinated to travel between the countries, and hoping that Singapore could serve as a "interchange station" such that people from third countries would be able to fly to Australia after completion of quarantine in Singapore.
Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack told Australian Broadcasting Corporation （ABC） that Australia was working with Singapore at the moment potentially for an air travel bubble beginning in July, and as more vaccination programmes were rolled out, Australia would be able to reopen more bubbles with more countries.
The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age quoted government sources saying that the deal would allow Singaporeans and Australians who had been vaccinated to travel between the countries without quarantining, and both countries were working on the mutual recognition of vaccination certificates.
It was said that New Zealand, which had already had travel bubble arrangement with Australia, might also be included in the plan.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, Australia had imposed stringent border control measures that non-citizens were basically banned from entering the country unless with special reasons, and even citizens returning back to the country would need to complete a 14-day quarantine, added that passenger volume of inbound flights had been significantly tightened and reduced, resulting in approximately 40,000 Australians stranding abroad.
The Australian government therefore hoped that international students and business travelers from third countries would be able to travel to Australia after completing the quarantine in Singapore.
Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said in a TV interview on 14 March that he hoped Singapore could start reopening its borders by end of the year, given that many countries would have substantial proportions of their populations vaccinated by later this year.
Singaporean Minister for Transport Ong Ye Kung said on 12 March that Singapore was ready to set up air travel bubble with other countries by mutual agreement so as to resume tourism activities within the year.
He added that the country had unilaterally opened its borders to places with the COVID-19 crisis under control such as Australia, New Zealand and China etc., and such measure had not led to an increase in local transmission, hoping other places to reciprocate what Singapore had done in order to form a travel bubble.
Regarding the development of the tourism industry this year, he pointed out that recovery of personal and sightseeing tours might become a reality in the second half of the year, but emphasized that the claims were only speculations.
While the Singapore Airlines has been testing the International Air Transport Association's （IATA） electronic travel pass starting from 15 March. From 15 to 28 March, passengers travelling from Singapore to London could download the IATA Travel Pass app to submit their COVID-19 test results or proofs of vaccination in order to shorten and simplify the relevant boarding procedures.●龐嘉儀
Q&A
1. 澳洲目前已與哪個國家有「旅遊氣泡」安排？
2. 去年5月，波羅的海三國試行了什麼類似計劃？
3. 去年7月，歐盟和英國推行了什麼類似模式？
4. 目前香港與哪些地區建立了「旅遊氣泡」？
5. 有意與香港建立「旅遊氣泡」的國家還有哪些？
Answer
1.新西蘭
2.「波羅的海旅遊氣泡」（Baltic bubble）計劃
3.「旅遊走廊」（Travel corridor）
4.新加坡
5.泰國、日本等