Map: Some Caribbean islands cautiously reopen to U.S. tourism (updated)

Several Caribbean islands plan to cautiously reopen to international tourism, joining those destinations that have already reopened or that began phased operations in late May.

However, border reopenings are accompanied by strict new public health protocols and procedures, many of which require air travelers to produce proof of a Covid-free test result administered within 48 hours prior to travel. These plans have been changing as the number of U.S. cases rise.

Here are the latest developments across the region:

• Anguilla: The island’s borders remain closed to commercial international traffic through July 14. Check www.beatcovid19.ai for information and updates.

• Antigua and Barbuda: V.C. Bird Airport reopened June 4, and American began a daily flight from Miami on the same day. Arriving passengers must complete a health declaration form as part of the screening process and submit proof of a negative virus test taken seven days before boarding. Visitors will be monitored for Covid for up to 14 days of their stay and may be required to undergo testing on arrival or at their hotel. Face masks are required in public.

• Aruba: The country is re-evaluating its plan to reopen its borders to visitors from the U.S. on July 10. The country reopened its borders for inbound travel for visitors from Bonaire and Curacao on June 15; and the Caribbean (with the exception of the Dominican Republic and Haiti), Europe and Canada on July 1.

Under consideration is the option of restricting travel from U.S. states with high infection rates or increasing the entry requirements for specific states.

Currently, visitors are required to have proof of a negative Covid test done within 72 hours of arrival and fill out an embarkation card prior to departure. Visitors who arrive with no test results will be tested at the airport, followed by a mandatory quarantine at their hotels until test results are received. Mask wearing is mandatory in public spaces.

• Bahamas: The country reopened its borders, airports and seaports on July 1. All incoming travelers must complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. Travelers also are required to upload results of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken within seven days of arrival and provide contact information.

An automated response will be provided once the application is completed. The only people approved to travel are those who have received a green color-coded response as proof of approval. This confirmation must be presented upon arrival in the Bahamas.

All entry requirements can be viewed at www.bahamas.com/travelupdates.

• Barbados: Commercial flights from Europe and Canada resume on July 12. JetBlue is tentatively set to return to service July 25 and American on Aug. 5.

Travelers from high-risk countries must take a Covid test within 72 hours of departure and fill out an online Embarkation/Disembarkation card (ED card) prior to arrival. When all supporting documents are uploaded, travelers will receive a bar code via email to clear health and immigration in Barbados.

Those without a documented test result from an accredited laboratory will be tested and will be quarantined for at least 48 hours, pending the test results.

• Bermuda: The island reopened to air travelers on July 1. However, travelers are now required to complete the online Bermuda travel authorization process within 48 hours of departure (it had been 72 hours). A $75 fee is required, which includes the costs of the Covid-19 testing in Bermuda.

No more than five days before departure, visitors must be tested for Covid and present proof of a negative result upon arrival in Bermuda.

All visitors are tested again upon arrival and must wait in their hotel room for results (usually six to eight hours). If visitors do not have a pre-departure test, they are tested upon arrival and must quarantine in the hotel for three days unil they are tested again. If the test is positive, the quarantine time is 14 days.

Additional Covid tests are required of all visitors on day seven and day 14 at pop-up testing centers with immediate test results.

Face masks are required in public spaces.

• Bonaire: The U.S. is not part of this reopening phase because it is still considered high risk. Bonaire lifted its border closures on July 1 for visitors from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and France. A maximum of 1,000 visitors per week is allowed. A negative Covid test must be conducted within 72 hours of the flight’s departure for Bonaire.

• Cayman Islands: The borders, airports and seaports on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are closed till Sept. 1, according to tourism minister Moses Kirkconnell.

• Curacao: At present, there is no timeline for travelers from the U.S, Latin America and South America. Borders reopened on June 12 for visitors from Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius and on June 15 from Aruba and St. Maarten. International travelers from Western Europe, Canada and China followed on July 1. All travelers must upload proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken no more 72 hours before departure, a digital immigration card and a Passenger Locator Card and carry a copy of these printed documents to show upon arrival in Curacao.

• Dominica: The country tentatively plans to reopen its borders to international travelers on Aug. 15. Protocols are due to be released shortly.

• Dominican Republic: The country began a gradual reopening on July 1. International tourists must fill out a Traveler’s Health Affadavit and have their temperature checked upon arrival. If a visitor exhibits symptoms, a Covid-19 test will be administered. If the test proves positive, the visitor will be quarantined at their hotel. Airports receiving visitors include Punta Cana, Puerto Plata, Santiago and Santo Domingo.

• Grenada: The country, which had planned to reopen its borders to commercial international traffic on July 1, has announced a more cautious approach. With daily reports of increased rates of infection, especially in the U.S., which is a main source market for Grenada, officials will continue to work on protocols before the country begins to accept commercial flights, according to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. A newly appointed Covid subcommittee is expected to wrap up its work by the end of July. After that, the government’s decisions on protocols, regulations, quarantine and testing will be guided by an advisory committee.

• Guadeloupe: Although Guadeloupe reopened to travelers from France in early June and from other EU countries and elsewhere on July 1, a travel ban for U.S. visitors remains in effect due to the surge of Covid-19 cases. The ban is re-evaluated every two weeks.

All travelers must present proof of a negative Covid test taken 72 hours before departure or be tested at the airport upon arrival with results within 48 hours. The cost of the test if done in Guadeloupe is $95. Mask-wearing is mandatory in the airport and in public spaces on the island.

JetBlue is taking reservations for flights from JFK to Pointe-a-Pitre beginning Nov. 7.

• Jamaica: Borders reopened to international travelers on June 15. The Ministry of Health & Wellness is collaborating with the Airports Authority of Jamaica regarding screenings of arriving passengers. Arriving passengers are required to complete and submit a pre-arrival Travel Authorization that asks about possible exposure to Covid-19.

In addition, effective for travel July 10 or later, travelers from Florida, Texas, New York and Arizona must upload the results of a negative Covid-19 test, not older than seven days before the date of travel, to the visitjamaica.com site prior to departure so that their arrival can be approved before they’ve left the U.S.

Screenings upon arrival will include electronic thermal scans. Face masks and social distancing in public spaces will be required of all persons, including visitors. This includes points of entry, ground transportation and accommodation facilities.

• Puerto Rico: The island reopens to inbound tourism July 15. Arriving passengers must complete a travel declaration from the Puerto Rico Health Department and show proof of a negative Covid test taken 72 hours before departure. If travelers arrive without the test, they will be tested at the airport and must quarantine for 14 days or until a negative result is obtained.

The 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew has been extended through July 22. Masks are mandatory in public. Restaurants, spas, museums, theaters and casinos are open and operating at 75% capacity.

• St. Barts: The borders will reopen to tourism on June 22. Visitors must be tested for Covid 72 hours prior to arrival. After receiving the test result, visitors must send proof to their villa agency or hotel before arriving. Visitors with negative test results can move about the island freely once they clear immigration.

If a visitor arrives in St. Barts without a recent negative test, they will be given a rapid Covid test upon arrival and then asked to self-quarantine in their accommodations until the results are delivered (within 24 hours). If the test result proves positive, the visitor will be moved to the island’s quarantine centera set of apartments near the stadium in St. Jean. Local health care workers will take care of the visitor for 14 days or until a negative test is reached.

Many restaurants have resumed dine-in service with social distancing and safe serving practices in place. Beaches are open.

• St. Lucia: Effective July 9, travelers must provide proof of a negative Covid test done within seven days of travel and must complete a pre-arrival registration form. They must also indicate which Covid-19-certified hotel they will be staying in: Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Sandals Grande St. Lucian, Ladera, Stonefield Resort Villas and Sugar Beach-A Viceroy Resort.

All passengers will be screened at the airport. Symptomatic passengers will be tested and then quarantined at their hotel until the result is received. If positive, they will be in isolation at one of two hospitals. Mask wearing is mandatory in public spaces.

• St. Maarten: Flights to and from St. Maarten from the U.S. have been pushed back a second time and are now tentatively scheduled for Aug. 1. The government warned on July 8 that the new Aug. 1 date is subject to change, based on the ongoing surge of coronavirus in many states. For other countries, strict health protocols for entry remain in place, including proof of a negative Covid-19 test within 72 hours of travel, thermal temperature checks and mandatory mask wearing in the airport and in public places on the island.

• St. Vincent and the Grenadines: The first reopening phase, which runs through July 30, requires that all visitors be tested upon arrival (the test is $40) and undergo a 24-hour quarantine in their hotel while awaiting results. Visitors who arrive with proof of a negative test conducted within 72 hours of arrival do not have to quarantine. All travelers must complete an online health questionnaire and submit to screening upon arrival.

Based on data gained during Phase One, travelers will have testing done in Phase Two depending upon their country of origin.

Air service resumed July 11 with an American flight from Miami.

• Turks and Caicos: Borders, Providenciales Airport and private jet terminals will reopen on July 22. The Grand Turk Cruise Center will remain closed until Aug. 31. International travelers will be required to obtain certification using TCI Assured, an online portal that will be available on July 15. The portal will require travelers to submit the following information: a negative Covid-19 PCR test result taken within 72 hours of travel; proof of medical/travel insurance that covers medical evacuation, costs related to quarantine, ambulance care or care at a local hospital; and a completed online health screening questionnaire. Once uploaded, the documents will be verified and a TCI Assured certification issued.

• U.S. Virgin Islands: The territory reopened to visitors on June 1. New health and safety protocols for all tourism stakeholders have been rolled out in conjunction with the Department of Health and guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Source: travelweekly.com

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