Posted by Travelweek Group
TORONTO — As the world begins to reopen in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more destinations are welcoming back visitors.
Airlines, hotels, resorts and ground handlers have invested heavily in health and safety protocols and are eager to welcome travellers back.
That said, the federal government’s advisory warning Canadians against non-essential travel to destinations outside of Canada is still in place. That’s an issue for getting travel insurance.
Also, under current federal regulations it is mandatory that all Canadians returning to Canada self-isolate under quarantine for 14 days.
Here are all the latest reopening lists, updated as new information comes in, for when your clients are ready to travel…
LATEST UPDATES: July 8 – Belize, Curaçao; July 6 – Dominican Republic, Antigua; July 3 – Saint Lucia, Puerto Vallarta; July 2 – Mazatlán, Barbados; June 25 – St. Vincent and the Grenadines; June 24 – Anguilla, Grenada; June 22 – Cuba; June 18 – Puerto Rico
THE CARIBBEAN
ANGUILLA
Anguilla is getting ready to reopen its borders after being declared COVID-19-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). For now Anguilla’s borders remain closed to commercial international traffic through June 30. WHO recently changed Anguilla’s classification status from “sporadic cases” to “no cases” in its situation report on June 18.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Updated July 6:
Antigua & Barbuda has updated its entry requirements for travellers to include a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test result within seven days of their flight, which comes into effect on July 9 at 11:59 p.m. AST. This also applies to transiting passengers. All arriving passengers must wear a face mask on disembarkation and in all public areas, as well as complete a Health Declaration Form. They’ll also be subjected to screening and temperature checks by Port Health Authorities upon arrival.
All arriving passengers will be monitored for COVID-19 for up to 14 days, and may be required to undergo testing on arrival or at their hotel or place of lodging. Arriving passengers with symptoms of COVID-19 may be isolated as determined by health authorities.
Antigua reopened its airport in early June, with commercial flights resuming on June 4. For more details see https://visitantiguabarbuda.com/travel-advisory/.
ARUBA
Aruba has officially reopened its borders and is once again welcoming inbound travellers in a phased-in approach. Starting June 15 Aruba opened its doors to visitors from Bonaire and Curaçao. Visitors from Canada, Europe and the rest of the Caribbean (with the exception of the D.R. and Haiti), will be welcomed back on July 1. Visitors from the U.S. are welcome back starting July 10. Travellers will be required to follow a new embarkation and disembarkation process to enter the country. In addition to social distancing, Aruba is placing temporary capacity limits on some of the more popular tourist destinations to decrease the flow of visitors at peak times in more heavily trafficked areas, without limiting overall access. Plus, a new safety and hygiene program in partnership with key private sector stakeholders has been developed and launched. The ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’, which outlines stringent cleaning and hygiene standards, is mandatory for all tourism-related businesses throughout the country. This protocol will ensure tourism businesses adhere to the strict guidelines for health, sanitation, and social distancing protocols. Each business will go through a checklist of new rules and regulations on how to operate in a COVID-19 world. Upon completion, businesses will be inspected by the Department of Public Health and receive a Code Gold Certification once approved. For more details see Aruba.com.
BAHAMAS
The Bahamas is reopening its borders and tourism sector on July 1 with the resumption of international travel, including both international and domestic commercial airlines. At airports and seaports, temperature screenings will be conducted for all incoming visitors, and travellers are required to wear a face mask where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing, such as when entering and transiting air and sea terminals, at customs screenings and baggage claim.
A full list of health and safety protocols for accommodations, transportation, excursions, tours, attractions, ferries and restaurants can be found here. These include the discontinuation of buffets at restaurants until further notice, a reduced capacity of 50% on ferries, a maximum number of guests on excursions, tours and attractions, and a limited number of guests in hotel elevators at one time.
BARBADOS
Canadians will be the first visitors to be welcomed back to Barbados when the island resumes commercial flights on July 12. Twice-weekly Air Canada service from Toronto Pearson to Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) will resume on July 12. Intra-regional flights on Caribbean Airlines are expected to resume in mid-July.
At the airport, public health protocols are in place including face masks en route to Barbados, physical distancing of three feet as well as temperature checks. Within 72 hours prior to departure for Barbados, all travellers from high-risk countries are strongly encouraged to take a COVID-19 PCR test from an accredited laboratory (ISO, CAP, UKAS or equivalent). High-risk countries are defined as those with more than 10,000 new cases in the prior seven days and community transmission. Travellers from low-risk countries will have up to one week prior to departure for Barbados to take their tests. These countries are defined as those with less than 100 new cases in the prior seven days and not in the Community Transmission category.
There will be a new online Embarkation/Disembarkation card (ED card) with personal health questions relating to COVID-19 symptoms, which travellers will be required to complete. Once all required steps are completed and supporting documents uploaded, travellers will receive a bar code via email. On arrival in Barbados, travellers will be required to present evidence of a negative result of a PCR COVID-19 test and bar code to clear immigration. Travellers without a documented negative PCR test result from an accredited or recognized laboratory will be required to take a test upon arrival, and will be quarantined at their expense, pending the results. The anticipated wait period for the test results is 48 hours. If travellers fail the test they will be placed in isolation where they will receive care from the Ministry of Health and Wellness. For more information go to https://gisbarbados.gov.bb/covid-19/. Read More…https://www.travelweek.ca/news/destinations-reopening-list/