The Caribbean islands have already begun to open their borders to international tourism with strict health safety protocols ahead of the Covid-19. Flights from the United States have already begun to land again on Caribbean soil, as is the case with American Airlines which this week opened its flight between Miami and Antigua.
The U.S. company will also begin operations to other Caribbean destinations such as Kingston and Montego Bay in the middle of this month. Other airlines such as JetBlue, Southwest and Spirit are expected to announce flight schedules this month, while Delta has already announced that it plans to return to several Caribbean routes at a limited capacity, Travelweekly reports.
Calendar of Island Openings
- Antigua and Barbuda: The V. C. Bird International Airport reopened on June 4 and American Airlines began operating a daily flight from Miami on the same day. Arriving passengers must complete a health declaration form and submit a negative virus test taken 48 hours before boarding. Masks are required in public.
- Aruba: The reopening of the border and airport is scheduled between June 15 to July 1.
- Bahamas: The country will reopen its borders, airports and seaports on July 1, according to the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation. The islands have a new Tourism Preparedness and Recovery Plan to mitigate risks for all visitors and residents with extensive health and safety protocols. The hotels will reopen on June 15 to allow staff to return to work and establish arrangements for guest arrivals on July 1, when commercial airlines, both international and domestic, are expected to begin limited operations. Face masks will be required in public and temperature checks will be conducted on a daily basis.
- Barbados: The airport will be closed to international flights until June 30. No timetable has been announced for the reopening of the country. The cruise port is closed until further notice.
- Cayman Islands: The borders, airports and seaports on Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman are closed until September 1, according to Tourism Minister Moses Kirkconnell. Curfews remain in effect on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac from 10 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. Curfews have been lifted on Little Cayman.
- Dominican Republic: International airports nationwide are closed to commercial traffic until July 1, according to the Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation. - Grenada: The government is working toward June 30 as the possible date for the reopening of the country's borders, according to Patricia Maher, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority.
- Jamaica: Borders will reopen to international travelers on June 15. The Ministry of Health and Welfare will work in collaboration with the Jamaica Airports Authority on screening of arriving passengers. Tourists will undergo voluntary testing by Covid but not quarantine.
- Puerto Rico: All commercial flights now use Luis Muñoz Marín Airport in San Juan. The Puerto Rico National Guard is helping to improve health screening of arriving passengers, including the Rapid Covid-19 test. Arriving passengers can be asked to be quarantined for 14 days, regardless of symptoms. Masks are required in public. A curfew is in effect from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. until June 15. Restaurants operate with a maximum occupancy of 25% and temperature checks are made before entry. Attractions remain closed except at many of Puerto Rico's 18 golf courses. Casinos have not reopened.
- St. Lucia: Hewanorra airport reopened on 4 June in phase one of the country's reopening plan, which means that the borders are now open to all international carriers and passport holders. The first flights are scheduled to resume in early July with American's daily flight from Miami on 7 July. Delta will announce departures in early July from Atlanta and JetBlue from JFK. St. Lucia requests a negative Covid test before traveling and will conduct temperature checks upon arrival. Visitors are required to wear face masks in public from arrival to departure, including during the hotel stay. In phase one, which runs until July 31, there are no sites or attractions open, although some shops are. Several restaurants are open for delivery and take-out services, but none offer sit-down service. Phase two runs from August 1 to September 30, and phase three runs from August 1 to September 30.
- St. Maarten: July 1 is the earliest date St. Maarten can reopen its airport, according to Lumila de Weever, minister of tourism. The attempted reopening date depends on whether the island remains stable without new cases of Covid-19. The third phase of the reopening plan went into effect June 1 and includes bars, restaurants with limited seating, beauty salons, souvenir shops and retail stores. All remaining businesses are scheduled to reopen on 15 June.
- Turks and Caicos: The borders, Providenciales airport and private jet terminals will reopen on July 22. The Grand Turk Cruise Center will remain closed until August 31.
Flights will resume from the U.S., Canada and Europe "as soon as the destination is ready," according to Pamela Ewing, director of tourism for the Turks and Caicos Islands Tourism Board. Hotels, resorts, villas, restaurants and tour operators are finalizing protocols before the reopening.
- U.S. Virgin Islands: has reopened to visitors on June 1 and has implemented new health and safety protocols in tourism in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
> Article originally published at reportur.com
