<div><b><span style="font-size: 1rem;">Taiwan welcomed its first batch of international tour groups after the island fully reopened its borders Thursday, ending strict quarantine rules in place since the coronavirus pandemic began.</span><br></b></div><div><br></div><div>A group of holidaymakers from Thailand arrived shortly after midnight and were greeted at Taoyuan airport with flower garlands and an exuberant dancing bear mascot.</div><div><br></div><div>Under Taiwan's current rules, three days of hotel quarantine have been replaced with seven days of "self-monitoring" where tourists are expected to keep an eye on their health and wear face masks indoors and outdoors.</div><div><br></div><div>The system will operate largely on trust, with tourists given coronavirus test kits on arrival to use throughout their stay.</div><div><br></div><div>That contrasts with Hong Kong where tourists must submit to regular tests for a week after their arrival and cannot enter bars and restaurants for the first three days. - AFP</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>