(EDITOR’S NOTE: This article written by Ann Ruppenstein was published in Travel Courier June 3, 2021)
If your clients have been jabbed, they’re one step closer to travelling to The Bahamas with ease as the Caribbean destination has announced that fully vaccinated travellers will be exempt from testing requirements.
“Anyone who is fully vaccinated and have passed the 14-day immunity period to ensure they have full immunity, they can now enter The Bahamas,” said Joy Jibrilu, the Director General of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism. “They’re still required to make an application for a Travel Health Visa but they’re no longer required to do the RT-PCR test five days in advance. In addition, once on the island, they’re no longer required to take the five-day rapid antigen test.”
This is welcome news for Jibrilu, who notes there’s been an explosion of Travel Health Visa applications since the policy came into effect on May 1. In addition, she points out there are plenty of other reasons to be optimistic such as the “encouraging” news coming out of the Out Islands.
“Room nights sold and room revenue are now expected to reach the 60% mark compared to 2019, which was a banner year for us,” Jibrilu said. “This improvement in the forecast can be directly attributed to 1) the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccines across the US and 2) the appeal of the Out Islands as authentic and unique island destinations that afford our guests access to nature and space and the opportunity to social distance perfectly, coupled with the fact that there is general belief that this positive trajectory will continue baring unexpected virus related developments.”
Airport improvements and upgrades are also slated for the busiest Out Islands airports, including Bimini, Long Island and Exuma, with plans underway for a new $60 million 60,000-square-foot terminal.
In Abaco, approximately 80% of the island’s pre-Dorian hotel inventory is now open for business. According to The Association of Bahamas Marinas, the boating business is already back at 2019 levels.
“The Bahamian tourism sector feels a great deal of enthusiasm,” Jibrilu said. “Over the past 12 months, we’ve had the opportunity to process the new normal that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought upon us and to formulate responses and strategies to deal with the rebound and recovery of our tourism industry.”
On Grand Bahama Island, two top resorts, Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach and Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucian, have reopened. See complete article in Travel Courier at https://travelcourier.ca/a-look-at-whats-new-in-nassau-paradise-island/?fbclid=IwAR1JiSDqo8b2mep4gqBqlV_XGL89W42WAKVXoM3ymfbWAx1UjgH9WkxyOiY
