CTO News

Pure Grenada Is Open and Welcoming Visitors

St. George’s, Grenada W.I. – 30^th September, 2020 – Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean, recognized and listed by the US Center for Disease Control as very low risk for COVID-19, is open and welcoming travelers from the destination’s key source markets in North America, the UK, and Caribbean, and indeed from all over the world. With Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique achieving World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels status, global travelers are encouraged to plan, book and get ready to experience the destination’s offerings for the fall and winter travel season, safely and responsibly.

Regionally, Grenada is included in a travel bubble with neighboring islands Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Dominica and St. Kitts. Visitors whose journey originates from these islands can enjoy travel to Grenada with very minimal requirements and explore the destination like a local Grenadian. Once on-island, travelers are free to enjoy immersive experiences including visiting historical forts, agricultural estates, diving and off-road adventures. With scheduled connectivity provided by Caribbean Airlines five days a week, InterCaribbean Airlines three times a week and One Caribbean which started a weekly service from September 15, 2020, exploring the culture and dynamic excursions on the three-island nation are even easier.

Visitors from all other countries must have a negative PCR test result taken within seven days prior to arrival in Grenada, details of which are found in an updated Traveler’s Guide to entering Grenada on the Ministry of Health website https://covid19.gov.gd. Canadian visitors can fly with Air Canada once flights resume on October 5, 2020, directly to Grenada and be easily processed through the Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA). Flights will operate weekly departing Toronto on Mondays at 8:55 a.m., arriving in Grenada at 2:05 p.m. UK and European visitors can take advantage of frequent British Airways and Virgin Atlantic flights to the Barbados hub and on proof of a Covid-19 negative test (within 72 hours of arrival in Barbados) can transit seamlessly to the regional carriers providing connectivity to Grenada. All travelers are required to book Pure Safe Travels Approved Accommodation prior to arrival and these are listed on the Travel Advisory page of www.puregrenada.com. US carriers JetBlue Airways and American Airlines are resuming weekly flights to the destination on October 3 and October 8 respectively, providing the perfect opportunity to plan a fall or winter retreat. Once cleared by Ministry of Health officials, all visitors can go out and enjoy the tri-island destination and look for the GTA’s Pure Safe Travel Approved Stamp on certified taxis, attractions and tourism services.

The world’s leading five star luxury included Sandals Grenada will open its doors on October 1, 2020 with their Caribbean wide platinum protocols of cleanliness plans. The largest hotel on island, Royalton Grenada, with 269 rooms, has announced its re-opening date of November 29, 2020. As part of the yachting sector re-opening, Grenada and Carriacou had a successful migration from the Grenada Lima database to the SailClear regional clearance platform for arriving yachts. For further Covid-19 Travel related queries, please contact the Customer Service number 473-440-0670 at the Grenada Tourism Authority.

Work Easily From Antigua and Barbuda

JOHN’S, ANTIGUA (30 September, 2020) –  The Caribbean country of Antigua and Barbuda is providing much needed space for workers throughout the world, with the launch of its Nomad Digital Residence (NDR) Programme, that allows persons to work safely and with ease from the twin-island paradise for as long as two years with the new NDR visa.

Announced by Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, The Honourable Gaston Browne, the Nomad Digital Residence programme is designed to attract persons who can meet the requirements of their employers or their clients, while working remotely.

Under the programme, eligible persons can live and move freely throughout Antigua and Barbuda for up to two years, and benefit from Antigua and Barbuda’s no personal income tax status.

“Antigua and Barbuda is in a unique position to offer the ‘Nomad Digital Residence’ programme.  Our very small number of Covid-19 cases and our effective system of containing community spread, makes our country one of the safest environments in the world”, said Prime Minister Gaston Browne.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, The Honourable Charles Fernandez  said, “Antigua and Barbuda represent the perfect place to escape, and enjoy all the space you need – space to move, space to think and space to work.  The Nomad Digital Residence Programme encourages persons to broaden their horizons and consider Antigua & Barbuda when thinking of work from home options.”

The country’s telecommunication system, linked seamlessly to the rest of the world, places it in an advantageous position to attract persons seeking a safe environment in which to work and live their lives.

For more information on the Nomad Digital Residence Programme, go to www.antiguanomadresidence.com/

Persons entering Antigua and Barbuda on the NDR programme will be required to comply with all of Antigua and Barbuda’s protocols regarding COVID-19 which can be viewed on www.visitantiguabarbuda.com.

Anguilla Announces Phase Two Reopening

The Valley, Anguilla, September 30, 2020……Anguilla’s Ministry of Tourism is preparing for Phase Two of the tourism reopening, slated to start on November 1^st, 2020.  In Phase Two, hotels and resorts, along with the villas, have been added into the approved and certified accommodations mix for visitors to the island.  Furthermore, the government is introducing the bubble concept, which allows properties to safely offer their guests access to a variety of approved amenities, services, and activities while they stay in place. These vary by property but may include watersports, select indoor and outdoor games, beach yoga, and other activities, provided that they are implemented in accordance with general COVID 19 protocols, such as social distancing, sanitizing and hygiene practices.

A revised fee schedule has also been introduced to help offset the steep costs of managing the re-entry protocols and procedures.  For visitors staying at a pre-approved property, for a period of less than three months, the fees listed below are effective immediately:

5 DAYS OR LESS

Individual Traveler: US$300

Couple: US$500

Family: Main applicant US$300 + US$250 per additional family member. 

6 DAYS TO 3 MONTHS (90 DAYS)

Individual Traveler: US$400

Couple: US$600 + US$250 per additional family member.

Family: Main applicant US$400 + US$250 per additional family member.

This fee covers two (2) tests per person, surveillance and costs associated with the additional public health presence.

For extended stays of over 3 months and up to 12 months, the original fees still apply, as follows:

3 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS

Individual Traveler: US$ 2,000

Family (4 persons): US$ 3,000 + US$ 250 per additional family member.

Family: Main Applicant + three (3) dependents.

A Dependent:

1. a child or step-child under the age of 26 years;
2. any other relative who is, by reason of age or any infirmity of body or mind, wholly dependent on that person for his/her subsistence.

This fee covers two (2) tests per person, surveillance and costs associated with the additional public health presence, the cost of extended immigration time/entry and a digital work permit.

All fees are payable only on approval of the travel application.

In June 2020, Anguilla was categorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as having “no cases” of COVID-19.   Anguilla currently has the classification of “No Travel Health Notice: Very Low Risk for COVID-19” from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html).

To date, there are no active or suspected cases on the island, and to ensure that this remains the case, there is no change to the entry requirements.  A negative test result obtained three to five days prior to arrival along with travel health insurance that covers COVID-related treatment is required, and all visitors will be given a PCR test on arrival.  A second test will be administered on day 10 of their visit, for those originating from low-risk countries, and on day 14 for guests arriving from higher-risk countries. Once a negative result is returned after the second test, guests are then free to explore the island.

Travel Applications are being accepted online at the Anguilla Tourist Board’s website; a concierge will guide each applicant through the process.  The site provides visitors with everything they need to know about the application process as well as experiencing life in Anguilla.

For information on Anguilla please visit the official website of the Anguilla Tourist Board: www.IvisitAnguilla.com; follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/AnguillaOfficial; Instagram: @Anguilla_Tourism; Twitter: @Anguilla_Trsm, Hashtag: #MyAnguilla.

For the most recent guidelines, updates and information on Anguilla’s response to effectively containing the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit www.beatcovid19.ai .

Jamaica Pursues Wellness Focused Tourism Initiative

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – September 28, 2020 – As the sun rises on the morning of October 2, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, Donovan White and members of the Jamaica Cycling Association will crank up the RPMs as they partake in the first leg of Discover Jamaica by Bike. A local event, this will serve as a pilot for a consumer cycling experience that will debut in spring 2021. The ride, which begins in Port Antonio and concludes in Kingston on October 5, will lay the groundwork for a new tourism initiative rooted in active travel and the development of outdoor programs that will allow visitors to embrace the island’s natural beauty while enabling physical distancing.

“Jamaica has always prided herself on delivering a tourism product that is ideally suited to deliver what visitors desire,” said Director White. “Discover Jamaica By Bike continues that legacy as it taps into our collective renewed focus on health and wellness coupled with safe, physically-distanced activities. We know that cycling has become a fitness activity of choice for many through this pandemic, and we are confident that development of a bookable experience around this itinerary will drive continued interest in the destination through a new lens.”

Discover Jamaica by Bike will kick-off with a press conference at Goblin Hill on Thursday, October 1. Officials from the Jamaica Tourist Board, the Ministry of Health & Wellness and the Ministry of Tourism will be on hand to share details about the event as well as possible marketing efforts to promote it to international attendees. From October 2 – 5, participants will trek along the Resilient Corridors through Port Antonio, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay, Negril, South Coast to Kingston, with the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel being the final stop.

Key elements from the October itinerary will be the basis for a consumer-facing itinerary that will showcase different components of the destination with a number of partners along the route. Biking enthusiasts will experience firsthand the rolling hills, beaches and many towns along the way that make Jamaica such a unique destination.

For more information on Jamaica, go to www.visitjamaica.com

Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Arrivals Begin Gradual Rise

(ST. JOHN’S, ANTIGUA) September 23, 2020 –  As Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Industry stakeholders prepare for peak season,  tourism officials are cautiously optimistic that with arrivals steadily increasing each month since the destination’s re-opening, that the moderate upward trend will continue into the traditionally busy tourism period.

For the year to August 2020, tourism stayover arrivals show that the destination received 94,810 visitors. Though arrivals dipped drastically in March due to reduced airlift brought on by the global pandemic, as the V.C Bird International Airport re-opened to international flights in June, monthly visitor arrivals have more than doubled from then until the end of August.

For the month of August, the destination received 4761 visitors, with 67% of these visitors travelling from the United States, followed by 21% from the United Kingdom & Europe, 7% from the Caribbean and 3% from Canada.

Minister of Tourism, Charles Fernandez noted that: “The Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority continue to carefully monitor the Covid-19 landscape within our main source markets. We remain committed to working with the Ministry of Health and the entire Antigua and Barbuda Tourism sector to ensure that as the destination opens up further, we keep those protective measures in place that have been designed to safeguard our residents and those who visit our shores.”

The Tourism Minister explained that it would not be business as normal, as with the pandemic ongoing, Covid-19 protocols would still require visitors to travel with their negative PCR test, wear facial masks when social distancing was not possible and adhere to other  protocols stipulated by the Ministry of Health.  For tourism businesses, he noted that protocols would also affect operations, and in some instances would mean reduced occupancy levels.

Presently American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, interCaribbean Airlines and Winair are operating flights into the destination.  In the next few months, Antigua and Barbuda will welcome, Virgin Atlantic, Air Canada, and Sunwing.

In October, additional hotel re-openings have also been planned.  These include Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association member hotels:  Blue Waters Resort, Tamarind Hills, Hermitage Bay, Antigua Village, Galley Bay, Carlisle Bay Resort, St. James’s Club, The Great House, Antigua Yacht Club Marina, Ocean Point Resort, Curtain Bluff Resort, and Hawksbill.

“Each hotel or accommodation offering that has opened has been inspected by the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Health, to ensure that they are adhering to the covid-19 protocols set for tourism accommodation.   Over   two hundred properties have been inspected to date ranging from small bed & breakfast styled properties, to the larger all-inclusives,” said the Tourism Minister. The full listing of all tourism properties certified as of September 15 by the Ministry of Tourism’s Quality Assurance Unit, can be viewed here

The Ministry of Tourism also recently released to the Antigua and Barbuda yachting sector, operational guidelines, and protocols for the sector.  These protocols are also available on www.visitantiguabarbuda.com

The Tourism Minister urged the tourism sector to remain mindful of the Covid-19 protocols in place that all key players should be guided by during the tourism recovery.

ABOUT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea. Voted the World Travel Awards 2015, 2016 and 2017 Caribbean’s Most Romantic Destination, the twin-island paradise offers visitors two uniquely distinct experiences, ideal temperatures year-round, a rich history, vibrant culture, exhilarating excursions, award-winning resorts, mouth-watering cuisine and 365 stunning pink and white-sand beaches – one for every day of the year. The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort a listed UNESCO World Heritage site, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Antigua’s tourism events calendar includes the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week, Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, and the annual Antigua Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island, is the ultimate celebrity hideaway. The island lies 27 miles north-east of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 17 mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.  Find information on Antigua & Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com or follow us on Twitter. http://twitter.com/antiguabarbuda  Facebook www.facebook.com/antiguabarbuda; Instagram: www.instagram.com/AntiguaandBarbuda

For media enquiries, please contact:
Maria Blackman
Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority

T: 1 (268) 562 7600/464-7601
E: maria.blackman@visitaandb.com