Destination News

Dominica Revises COVID-19 Country Risk Classification

Roseau, Dominica – (November 19, 2020), The Government of Dominica has taken a responsible decision to revise the COVID-19 Country Risk Classifications for travel from the CARICOM Travel Bubble, Low, Medium and High-Risk Countries.

Effective Wednesday November 18, 2020, St. Lucia has been reclassified to the HIGH RISK classification. Travellers from St. Lucia to Dominica must submit the online health screening form available at  https://domcovid19.dominica.gov.dm/, submit a Negative PCR test where swabs were taken within 24-72 hours of arrival into Dominica.  Upon exiting the port of entry, travellers will submit to a quarantine period of up to 7 days where a PCR test is taken on day 5 after arrival and results are expected within 24-48 hours. Travellers must submit themselves to mandatory quarantine and may opt to quarantine at the Government operated facility or at a Safe in Nature Certified property under a ‘Managed Experience’.

The Safe in Nature Commitment and Managed Experiences are available to all visitors, including guests from high risk classified countries visiting Dominica. More information about the Safe in Nature Commitment and Managed Experiences and a complete listing of the risk classification of countries is available at https://discoverdominica.com/travel-advisory-for-dominica.

Discover Dominica Authority continues to work with Health Officials to ensure the safety and security of visitors to the island, and with tourism stakeholders to ensure a unique managed experience in a responsible manner.

For more information on Dominica, contact Discover Dominica Authority at 767 448 2045. Or, visit Dominica’s official website: www.DiscoverDominica.com.
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Revisions to the Travel Requirements for St. Kitts & Nevis – Revised Update #4

Basseterre, St. Kitts (November 11, 2020) – St. Kitts & Nevis officially opened its borders to international travel on October 31, 2020. Since the opening of the borders on Saturday, the Federation has welcomed 183 travelers to its shores who were greeted with a festive performance by the St. Kitts Masqueraders. All persons were processed proficiently and transferred to their accommodations. This update outlines a change to the exit test requirements.

All International Travelers (Non-Nationals/Non-Residents) are required to take a PCR-Test, 72 hours prior to travel and submit proof of test with the Travel Authorization Form. Travelers staying 7 nights or less, are required to take a PCR-test 72 hours prior to departure. The PCR-test will be done on the hotel property, at the nurse’s station.  The Ministry of Health will advise the respective hotel, of the date and time for the traveler’s PCR-test before departure. If positive before departure, the traveler will be required to stay in isolation at their cost, at their respective hotel. If negative, travelers will proceed with departure on their respective date.

The cost for the PCR test is USD $150 for Non-Nationals/Non-Residents.

Travelers should regularly check the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (www.stkittstourism.kn) and Nevis Tourism Authority (www.nevisisland.com) websites for updates and information.

Anguilla Expands Vacation Bubble Concept for Phase Two Reopening

The Valley, Anguilla, November 4, 2020 …… Anguilla’s Phase Two reopening to international travelers began on Sunday, November 1^st, with the introduction of the vacation bubble concept, designed to allow properties to safely offer their short stay guests access to a variety of approved amenities, services and activities while they stay in place.  These guided movements allow visitors to interact with Anguilla’s exceptional tourism product while limiting their interaction with Anguilla’s population.

“We are pleased to announce that Anguilla’s hospitality product can now reopen in a safe though unprecedented way, subject to inspections and safety protocols designed to protect the health of our visitors and our nation,” said the Hon. Minister of Tourism and Infrastructure, Mr. Haydn Hughes.  “We want everyone to enjoy the Anguilla experience – we invite you to lose the crowd and find yourself,” he continued.

All visitors are welcome in Phase Two, provided that they meet the pre-entry approval requirements.  These include a negative PCR test, taken within 3 – 5 days of arrival; medical insurance that covers the cost of COVID-19 related treatment for 30 days; and payment of fees which vary depending on the proposed length of stay. For information on the pre-entry approval visit Anguilla Tourist Board’s website; a dedicated concierge will guide each applicant through the process.

“We recognize that health and safety concerns are paramount for both our visitors and our guests,” stated the Hon. Parliamentary Secretary Tourism, Mrs. Quincia Gumbs Marie. “In preparation for our Phase Two reopening we have offered free training courses to over 500 tourism employers – from housekeepers to ground transportation and charter boat operators —  and over 100 business establishments have been Safe Environment Certified.   Our Safe Environment Approval has been awarded to a variety of services and activity providers, as we expand the scope of activities and experiences on offer to our visitors.”

Visitors to Anguilla may now indulge in their favorite pastimes – dining out at certified “bubble” restaurants; a round of golf; scuba diving snorkeling kayaking, glass-bottomed boat rides; outdoor yoga, select outdoor and indoor fitness activities; and the ever-popular offshore cay excursions to Sandy Island, Scilly Cay and Prickly Pear,  including private lunches.   Advance reservations are required for all activities, with transportation provided by a certified ground operator.

Travelers’ options for getting to Anguilla will also expand as the island enters Phase Two of its reopening to international travelers.  On November 15^th , 2020, the sea shuttle services from the St. Maarten-Anguilla Ferry Terminal, located across from the Princess Juliana Airport (SXM), will once again operate into the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal on Anguilla.  Calypso Chatters, Funtime Charters and GB Express are among the certified and approved companies authorized to resume the 25-minute private and semi-private shuttle services between Sint Maarten and Anguilla.

Many of Anguilla’s marvelous collection of spectacular villas opened in Phase One, and more have come on stream in Phase Two.  Anguilla’s iconic resorts reopen in Phase Two, starting with Belmond Cap Juluca, Frangipani Beach Resort and Tranquility Beach Anguilla on November 1^st , They are followed by the CuisinArt Golf Resort and Spa on November 14^th; the Four Seasons Resort & Residences and the Quintessence Hotel on November 19^th; Zemi Beach House, LXR Hotels & Resorts on December 14^th; and Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection on December 17^th.

Select properties in the Charming Escapes Collection, including Carimar Beach Club, Shoal Bay Villas, Meads Bay Villas and La Vue are also open and accepting guests. The full list of certified and approved properties, which is constantly updated, can be found at the Anguilla Tourist Board website.  A complete list of bars, restaurants, and lively hangouts is also posted on the site, and updated weekly as additional establishments become certified.

To date, there are still no active or suspected cases on the island, and to ensure that this remains the case, the three-testing protocol remains in place.  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.  The island has significantly increased its national testing capacity, and test results are available within two hours.  A second test will be administered on day 10 of their visit, for visitors originating from low-risk countries (i.e. where the virus prevalence is less than 0.2%,), 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.

The following fees apply, payable on receipt of pre-entry approval:

5 DAYS OR LESS

Individual Traveler: US$300

Couple: US$500

Each additional family/group member: US$250 

6 DAYS TO 3 MONTHS (90 DAYS)

Individual Traveler: US$400

Couple: US$600

Each additional family/group member: US$250

The fee covers two (2) tests per person and costs associated with the additional public health surveillance and monitoring. 

3 MONTHS TO 12 MONTHS

Individual Traveler: US$ 2,000

Family (4 persons): US$ 3,000

Each additional family/group member: US$ 250

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

Anguilla had only 3 confirmed cases of COVID -19, with no hospitalizations and no fatalities.  The island’s last confirmed case was 7 months ago; 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

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.

Grenada Implementing Strategic Cruise Business Actions

St. George’s, Grenada W.I. – 9th November, 2020 – The Grenada Tourism Authority (GTA) is continuing to implement key strategic cruise business actions in preparation for the safe and gradual resumption of the industry. One of these actions is the completion of an Aquila Centre for Cruise Excellence destination readiness workshop for public and private sector cruise teams including the Grenada Ports Authority, Ministry of Health, Customs, Grenreal, Immigration, Local Agents and Tour Operators.

 As part of the workshop (September to October) dubbed ‘How To’, stakeholders completed the five-part series focused on health and safety as well as maintaining the quality of Pure Grenada experiences based on the new way of doing business in the Tourism industry. Some of the major topics included preparing your community to welcome cruise, building an operational plan that adapts with change, reimagining product development and guest experiences, creating a culture of service and delivering wow experiences for cruise lines and guests.

 Nautical Development Manager at the GTA Nikoyan Roberts expressed her appreciation of the stakeholders’ commitment to the program. She further stated, “As a destination we want to deliver “WOW” experiences to cruise guests, while observing the strictest protocols. I believe our team has already visualized what these experiences will look like. We have a small cruise ship SeaDream arriving on November 13 where we can practice and refine our learnings over the coming weeks.” 

CEO of the GTA Patricia Maher was also keen to see that one of the modules delved into having an adaptable cruise operational plan. She further stated, “We’re living in a different time and we have to adapt to the new way of doing business in Tourism. We can offer smaller, more personalized group tours to our many unique experiences on land and at sea. Now is the time to train and prepare to welcome cruise ships back in a safe, efficient, and mutually beneficial way in the year ahead.” 

Team Grenada also participated in recent Seatrade Cruise Global virtual meetings. It was an opportunity for the team to learn about current cruise trends as well as network with cruise decision makers while promoting the global digital health and safety campaign, Pure Grenada Just For You. Grenada’s Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation, Climate Resilience and the Environment Hon. Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen M.P. featured prominently during the event when she delivered a cruise update interview for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. 

Coming out of the high level discussions with cruise lines there are opportunities for Grenada to be included in more Southern Caribbean cruise itineraries with home porting in Barbados. Prior to the crisis, our main cruise markets were UK and European guests and now we have the opportunity to target North Americans who can fly to Barbados and sail on shorter cruises to Grenada and beyond in 2021.

Message from Grenada’s Tourism Minister Hon. Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen on Tourism Awareness Month 2020

Fellow Grenadians, it is my pleasure to address you on the opening of Tourism Awareness Month 2020. The theme this year, ‘Tourism; Connects Us All” concisely highlights just how all our lives are touched in some measure by the Tourism industry and indeed the COVID-19 pandemic has made this even more clear.

When we think about the Tourism industry, we first think about livelihoods and job creation. Statistics show that approximately 10,400 people benefitted directly and indirectly in the industry pre COVID. This reach is much more significant when one considers the families dependant on Tourism workers for their collective livelihood. There is the potential for just one Tourism worker to impact the wellbeing of 2-3 other lives. During the pandemic, the Tourism industry has been hard hit and this was acutely felt by a number of families, therefore, Government knew it had to move swiftly to ensure that the industry was rescued.

Another dimension highlighting the way ‘Tourism connects us all’ is the direct and indirect revenue the industry generates, contributing almost a quarter of our Gross Domestic Product. Data up to September 2020 shows that Grenada experienced a 42.7% decline in overall visitor arrivals contributing to a decline in expenditure for stayover arrivals alone by 75% or just over 300 million dollars. This is revenue needed to sustain Grenada’s development through education, transportation, health and other services the nation depends on.

Thirdly, Tourism has deep connections to other critical sectors such as Agriculture, energy, fisheries, entertainment and craft. The synergy between Agriculture and Tourism means that local farmers can increase their production of fresh produce to supply the Food and Beverage and Accommodation sectors. In the midst of the pandemic, some farmers, fishermen and vendors reported sustaining significant losses when hotels were closed. In the future, I would like to see the bonds between these two sectors deepen as we seek to provide healthy, fresh foods to our residents and visitors.

Finally, Tourism connects us all because we are proud citizens of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Tourism is you, Tourism is me; it is all of us.  If we are not innovative and cannot provide memorable experiences, if we do not care for our environment for generations to come, if we are not custodians of our culture, if we are not friendly and courteous people, if we do not produce healthy fresh foods, then our Tourism industry, our gains cannot be sustained. Whatever you do in life, you have a role to play.

Today, we are happy to see signs of recovery with hotels open again and major flights returning from the USA, Canada, the UK and the region and for that we must be grateful. Slowly but surely we are getting back on our feet, but it will take a continued collective effort to ensure we build back stronger. Tourism connects us all in Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.