Destination News

Petra Roach Appointed To Lead The Grenada Tourism Authority

The Board of Directors is pleased to confirm the appointment of Petra Roach as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA). Ms. Roach brings an incredible amount of expertise to this position, having previously served in the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) for the last 27 years. During her tenure at the BTMI, Ms. Roach held various positions, including Vice-President of Marketing and Sales for the United Kingdom, Director of Sales and Marketing for the USA, Global Head of Markets and interim CEO. She successfully elevated the Barbados brand to its current heights and has been instrumental in Barbados’ increase in airlift. Her in-depth knowledge of both marketing and the tourism industry will be a welcomed skillset to her new role at the GTA.

The Board of Directors of the GTA recognizes the importance of international marketing expertise and powerful relationships and contacts within the tourism and airline industries as a requirement for the role of CEO. In this position, Ms. Roach will lead the destination through its pandemic recovery process, placing an emphasis on innovative and competitive marketing campaigns, in what is surely to be an exciting and game-changing time for Grenada’s tourism.

“Petra is a recognized leader in the tourism sector, and we are thrilled she has agreed to take on the challenge the GTA has presented her, said GTA Chairman Barry Collymore. “This is a huge win for Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique as we saw the urgent need to have someone with not only the understanding of the Caribbean marketplace, but with the skillset to help lead our unique destination through recovery and start a new chapter for our tourism product.”

“I feel honored to lead the team as GTA’s new CEO and be tasked with pushing forward GTA’s success during these challenging, but equally exciting times” said Roach. “I also look forward to working with all of the industry stakeholders, as we collectively chart a dynamic upward course for the destination.”

24 Hour Quarantine Possible With Protocol Entry Update

Beginning 15^th May, 2021, fully vaccinated passengers arriving in the British Virgin Islands will be free to explore the destination after returning a negative Arrival (Day 0) test result.   This news was announced by Minister for Health & Social Development, Honourable Carvin Malone on Friday, 23^rd April.

The minister confirmed that fully vaccinated persons arriving from overseas, will be required to take a PCR test within five days of travel to the Territory, provide proof of full vaccination, and take a PCR test upon arrival (Day 0).  Once they receive a negative test result from that test, they will be free to enjoy their vacation throughout the Territory.  This means that they will be able to forgo the four day quarantine still required for arriving passengers that have not been fully vaccinated.

Director of Tourism Clive McCoy in reacting to the news said, “This is great news and timely, as more guests are arriving fully vaccinated and many in our industry have stepped forward to take the vaccine in support of economic rejuvenation.  The Territory already has an enviable record for health and safety during the pandemic and have continued with its strategy of gradual reopening based on international conditions and the local situation.  Any progress in that direction augers well for tourism and for the economy, and this is a very significant step.”

Under this updated protocol a person is deemed to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 two weeks after they have received both doses of an approved two-dose vaccine, such as AstraZeneca, Moderna or Pfizer vaccine or one shot of a single-dose vaccine, such as Johnson & Johnson.   Meanwhile the Ministry of Health continues its drive to vaccinate up to 70% of the resident population, so far vaccinating over 9,000 persons.

Statia Further Opens Up Its Borders

The Public Entity St. Eustatius will further open up its borders on Sunday, May 9^th, 2021 by introducing the second phase of the road map. As of this date family members of residents and Statians that want to return home can enter the island. Also, visitors from Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten, Bonaire and Saba are welcomed to Statia. The only condition is that all incoming travelers must be fully vaccinated.

Everyone else can also visit Statia but must go into quarantine for 10 days if they are not fully vaccinated.

Third phase

The third phase of the road map does not have a starting date but will start when 50% of the population of St. Eustatius is vaccinated. When this is reached, fully vaccinated visitors can come to Statia without the mandatory quarantine of 10 days. Up till now in total 879 persons (which is 37%) received both doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Fourth phase

In the fourth phase everyone can enter the island, also not vaccinated visitors, without the need to go into quarantine. The condition is that the majority of the Statian residents must be vaccinated, which is 80%.

The easing of measures started on April 11, 2021 which was the first phase of the road map of the opening of the island. As of that day, Statian residents that are fully vaccinated do not need to go into quarantine anymore when entering Statia after traveling abroad.

Careful deliberation

The decision to further easy the measures was taken after careful deliberation and only after consulting the key partners involved. These are the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports in the Netherlands (VWS), the National Institute for Health and Environment (RIVM), the Public Health Department and the Crisis Management team in Statia.

Jamaica’s UK Travel Ban to be Lifted Starting May 1

KINGSTON, JAMAICA – APRIL 29, 2021 – Jamaica’s travel ban on the United Kingdom (UK) that is slated to come to an end tomorrow, April 30, will not be extended. This means that the ban, which was instituted as part of the measures under Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Act, will be lifted as of May 1, 2021.

Speaking on the significance of the lifting of the ban, Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett said, “On Saturday May 1, Jamaica will reopen its borders to international visitors from the United Kingdom. This will enable the critical gateways of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, to have transit for passengers coming through and who are fully compliant with health and safety protocols required for international travel.”

The ban brought travel between Jamaica and the UK to a halt and was done as part of the island’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19. Several countries around the globe have also been forced to institute similar travel bans as apart of their COVID-19 management measures. However, with the global deployment of COVID-19 vaccines there has been an increase in confidence as it relates to travel and tourism.

“Jamaica’s position at this time is critical in relation to the opening up of the summer tourist season and in fact, the importance of enabling the diaspora, particularly the strong British clientele that have always come to the island. The lifting of the ban is also against the background of the improved vaccination programme in the UK and the fact that pretty close to 50% of UK residents have received their second dose of vaccinations.”

Since reopening its borders last June, Jamaica has welcomed approximately 1.5million visitors under the island’s robust health and safety protocols.

“The opening of the borders is important in the context of not just Jamaica’s tourism but Caribbean tourism, as so many of these countries benefit from transiting through Jamaica for British and European nationals.

It is important also against the background of the recent call by the Caribbean Tourism Organization urging a review of the categorization of Caribbean countries by the UK; given the fact that we have the lowest death rates and highest recovery rates and exemplary COVID-19 management,” added Minister Bartlett.