Carib resorts

GEARING UP: PHASE NORMAL BUSINESS G

Elaine Glusac

The Covid-19 pandemic struck the Caribbean at the height of high season, when snowbirds, primarily from the United States, pack the beaches for winter and spring break and provide the revenue to see resorts and sometimes entire countries through the lull of summer and fall.

But in recent years, places like Puerto Rico and the Bahamas have developed a strong summer business, fuelled by bargain seekers, adventure travellers and families.

Now, as the region begins to reopen to international travellers, it faces not just the challenge of the pandemic but the financial blow dealt by the absence of cruising and the onset of hurricane season.

Excluding Guyana, the Caribbean economy is expected to contract by 3% in 2020, according to the World Bank.

“We’re not fooling ourselves. We fully expect to see a slow return of travel,” said Frank Comito, chief executive and director general of the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, which represents 33 national hotel associations in the region.

“We expect those that do open up in the coming months will take some time to see hotel occupancy levels even approach 50%.”

As countries reopen, most are mandating face masks indoors and social distancing.

Other restrictions vary widely. Aruba planned to reopen to Canadians, Europeans and most Caribbean nationals on 1 July, and to visitors from the United States yesterday. St Maarten announced its airport would reopen on 1 July as long as Covid-19 cases remained at zero. The Cayman Islands, a nation much less reliant on tourism (about 30% of its economy) compared to many of its neighbours, will wait until September.

St Barts is among several islands requiring a negative Covid-19 test of arrivals or offering one on the spot (€155, or R2 990).

Bonaire and Curacao planned to reopen on 1 July, to some Europeans.

“We’re hoping to get going in July and August to give the economy an injection we need and then hopefully get through hurricane season,” said Joseph Boschulte, the commissioner of tourism for the US Virgin Islands.

The following are plans for five island destinations reopening now.

The Bahamas

The Bahamas entered Phase 2 of its reopening on 1 July, welcoming overseas visitors. Travellers ages two and older must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within 10 days of arrival. They must also submit an electronic health visa that asks questions, including where they have travelled in the last six weeks, and receive clearance to travel.

Some resorts, including Baha Mar, the luxury development on Nassau, will remain closed until October.

But the Bahamas’ largest resort, Atlantis Paradise Island, plans to reopen on 30 July. By midAugust, it expects to have nearly 60% of its 3 786 rooms open. Its water park and dolphin swim facilities will be open along with its casino and 20 restaurants.

Normally, July and August are two of the resort’s busiest months, attracting families on summer vacations.

Jamaica

Jamaica reopened its borders to international visitors on 15 June, with guidelines to be reviewed every two weeks. Currently, visitors must be preapproved for entry via an online travel authorization that assesses an applicant’s health risk.

From yesterday, travellers from areas deemed high risk must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test taken within seven days of arrival.

Travellers are restricted to a newly designated “resilient corridor” along the north coast from Negril to Portland (a second corridor in the area of the capital of Kingston is open to business travellers).