Chile’s government has announced that Easter Island (known to its residents as Rapa Nui) will reopen to tourists in August, after being closed for more than two years due to the COVID pandemic.
The UNESCO World Heritage site is located over 2 000 miles (3 219km) from the coast of Chile. Its most famous tourism icon is the 1 000-plus giant stone heads (Moai) believed to have been carved centuries ago by its inhabitants.
The island is one of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, with the closest inhabited land, Pitcairn Island, lying 2 075km away.
In October 2021, following a referendum held in order to determine whether or not the island should reopen for tourism, 67% of the residents voted against it. However, the result was regarded as non-binding, and now, under the new leadership of President Gabriel Boric, who took office in March, authorities have composed a new plan detailing the reopening of the islands. "It has been agreed that the opening of Rapa Nui (Easter Island) will take place on August 1," said a statement from the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism.
A pre-condition set by the Chilean government for the reopening of tourism is that the local COVID vaccination rate must have reached 80% - it is currently at approximately 73%, according to Daily Sabah.
Presently, there is only one weekly flight to Easter Island, on Latam. This is set to increase to three flights per week from the opening date.
