CTO News

Amendment to Protocols for Entry to Dominica

Roseau, Dominica – February 24, 2022, The Ministry of Tourism International Transport and Maritime Initiatives announced new measures for COVID-19 pre-arrival and entry protocols for travellers to Dominica with immediate effect.

Hon Denise Charles, the Minister for Tourism, International Transport, and Maritime Initiatives indicated that this move is yet another responsible decision in managing the safety of travellers while allowing greater convenience in their travel journey. We are optimistic that the tourism stakeholders will profit from greater arrivals as a result of the relaxation of these protocols, as we have harmonized the protocols for both air and sea travel, allowing visitors to choose their preferred method of transportation to visit Dominica.

The major amendment indicates that All travellers are required to:

• Complete a health questionnaire online before arrival in Dominica at http://domcovid19.dominica.gov.dm and can complete it on arrival if they experienced problems completing it prior to boarding.
• Upload a negative PCR test result from a swab taken within 72 hours prior to arrival OR upload pre-arrival negative Rapid Antigen Test result from a swab taken within 48 hours prior to expected arrival time into Dominica.

Prior to boarding airlines or other travel carriers, travellers must also present a Negative PCR test result OR a Negative Rapid Antigen Test result.

• Upon arrival in Dominica, fully vaccinated travellers shall be medically cleared after documents have been validated. For un-vaccinated travellers, the protocols for disembarkation remain unchanged. Therefore, un-vaccinated travelers shall take a Rapid Antigen test and proceed to a Safe in Nature certified property for at least 5 days.

These revised protocols are to be applied to travellers to Dominica by air and sea. All other protocols for un-vaccinated protocols remain unchanged.

Additionally, the limitations previously placed on ferry operations regarding a limit on the number of passengers and number of calls per week have been lifted.

Director of Tourism, Colin Piper indicated that the change in protocols allowing pre-arrival Antigen testing has been requested from potential visitors in the US and the French West Indies who have had difficulties procuring PCR test results within the testing window. This will benefit all tourism stakeholders, especially accommodations, who have experienced cancellations due to potential visitors’ inability to obtain the required tests in time. With the new protocols, lifting of Ferry restrictions, and direct American Airline flights, visitor arrivals are expected to increase.

Barbados is Opening Up with New Travel Protocols

One week after discontinuing its curfew, the Government of Barbados is announcing a series of updates to enhance travellers’ entry process into the country.

Effective Saturday, February 26, 2022, travellers to Barbados will have more options with the acceptance of Rapid Antigen tests for entry, once administered by a healthcare provider no more than one day prior to arrival in Barbados. Rapid Antigen Tests are widely available in Barbados’ primary source markets and results are typically returned within one hour.

Rapid Antigen Tests join the list of approved tests for entry in Barbados. Also accepted are COVID-19 PCR tests taken no more than 3 days prior to arrival in Barbados. The COVID-19 tests can be taken using samples administered by nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, nasal, anterior nares, or mid-turbinate swabs. However, the following PCR tests will not be accepted:

1. Self-administered swabs are not accepted.
2. Shallow nasal swabs are not accepted.
3. Saliva tests are not accepted.

In addition, the Government of Barbados in-transit passengers will not be required to test in order to transit through Barbados.

Airport experience

Travellers can also expect to see changes to the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) experience. All paper forms previously distributed on board aircraft arriving in Barbados will be discontinued. In addition, travellers will once again utilize the more spacious main arrivals hall, instead of the temporary Gate 14-16 arrivals hall previously stood up to manage port health entry checks and testing during the pandemic.

For more information on Barbados’ travel protocols, visit www.barbadostravelprotocols.com.

St. Maarten Announces First Steps In Its “Transition Back to Normalcy”

Phillipsburg, St. Maarten – February 24, 2022 – The Caribbean island of St. Maarten continues to add to its list of compelling reasons as to why consumers should consider the destination for their travel pursuits. Already boasting one of the region’s most seamless, user-friendly entry protocols (available at www.stmaartenentry.com), the Dutch territory revealed on February 21 that it will proceed with implementing a phased transition to move from pandemic protocol to endemic strategies.

“This is not a hastily made move nor one to be confused with complacency about the situation. As we take steps towards normalcy, we will do so in a safe and responsible manner. With case numbers remaining low, our protocols have made St. Maarten one of the safest places to visit today,” said Omar Ottley, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor.

“Declaring COVID-19 an endemic on our island is pivotal, and we will work for months to come to pioneer policies that prioritize everyone’s health and simultaneously allow for easy yet safe travel to and within St. Maarten. We are confident that introducing these new protocols will help us smoothly transition back to normalcy and maintenance while welcoming an increasing number of valued visitors to our Friendly Island.”

The first step of the transition strategy starts February 25, at which time all nightlife business hours will be extended to 3 a.m. This will be followed by a change in the entry requirements beginning March 1, with all travelers who are fully vaccinated, as well as those who have recovered from COVID-19 in the last nine (9) months, no longer being required to show proof of a negative test upon arrival. Unvaccinated individuals, however, must still provide a negative PCR test taken 48 hours prior to arrival or an antigen test taken 24 hours prior to arrival. All travelers, regardless of vaccination status, must fill out a health pre-authorization form as early as 72 hours before arrival by visiting www.stmaartenentry.com (all new entry protocols mentioned will soon be updated on this same website).

“We remain as united as ever in our efforts to further reposition St. Maarten as a leading destination and to restore our tourism prestige by adapting our processes to meet consumers’ expectations and provide an easy travel experience to our beloved island,” said Roger Lawrence, Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication (TEATT). “As we transition to normalcy, we will continue to promote safety measures to ensure a safe and fun environment for our residents and visitors alike throughout the transition period.”

According to the St. Maarten Tourism Bureau, the number of airport arrivals is on the increase, proving that recovery of the tourism sector is underway. In January 2022, the destination welcomed nearly 30,000 visitors – a 39% increase compared to January 2019 numbers.

Direct airlift into SXM is currently available via American Airlines (out of Miami, Charlotte and Dallas), Delta (out of Atlanta and JFK), JetBlue (out of Boston, Fort Lauderdale, JFK, and Newark), Spirit (out of Fort Lauderdale) and United (from Newark, Washington/Dulles, and Chicago).

Jamaica Updates Covid-19 Protocols for Travelers

KINGSTON, JAMAICA, February 24, 2022 – Effective March 1, 2022, international visitors to Jamaica will no longer be required to obtain travel authorization to enter the island. Travelers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel. Additionally, travelers to Jamaica will no longer face travel-related quarantine measures.

“Eliminating travel-related quarantines and the need for travelers to fill out and receive approval of the Travel Authorization form are key steps in relaxing our travel protocols as the global spread of COVID-19 declines,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica. “We are confident that these refreshed entry requirements will increase the appeal of Jamaica as a destination of choice and help us continue on our path to recovery for the tourism sector and wider economy as a whole.”

Jamaica has recently shortened the isolation period required for U.S. travelers who test positive for COVID-19 while in Jamaica, in keeping with CDC recommended guidelines, and eliminated quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated business travelers who present a negative PCR test taken within 3 days of travel to Jamaica.

“We are continually reviewing our Jamaica CARES program and travel protocols to align with best practices from internationally recognized organizations and ensure that Jamaica retains its position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations,” noted Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Tourist Board. “These changes are timed to go into effect as destinations across the globe are enacting similar revisions to their travel requirements.”

The health and safety of every Jamaican and every visitor to the country remains the island’s top priority through its comprehensive Jamaica CARES program. Jamaica CARES is a nationwide response to COVID-19 that includes the island’s comprehensive health and safety protocols which were among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels recognition and allowed the island to safely reopen in June of 2020.

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