Chile's Easter Island reopens to tourists after pandemic shutdown

A local resident welcomes a tourist to Easter Island, as the first flight arrives, after closing its borders for more than two years due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Rapa Nui, Easter Island, Chile, in this undated handout picture released on August 4, 2022. Rapa Nui Municipality/Handout via REUTERS

Chile's Easter Island received its first group of tourists on Thursday after closing its borders for more than two years due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Easter Island, over 2,000 miles (3,219 km) from the coast of Chile, has over a thousand stone statues -- giant heads that were carved centuries ago by the island's inhabitants -- which have brought it fame and UNESCO World Heritage Site status.