What to know before going to the Caribbean
Many of the Caribbean’s 33 tourism-reliant nations remain closed to international travelers. However, several destinations across the region are now accepting visitors as they attempt to rebuild tourism activity during the critical fall period.
Yet to resume some semblance of the millions of visitors the region previously attracted annually prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, destinations need not only to reopen, but travelers must also feel comfortable returning to the region.
To do that, vacationers must access, understand and prepare for required COVID-19 protocols in the Caribbean country they intend to visit. “We forewarn our clients that protocols and guidelines can change on a dime, so they need to be aware that they might need to suddenly follow a new policy, which can be stressful,” said Jennifer Doncsecz, owner of
VIP Vacations.
Her agency has served “many travelers and even large wedding groups” traveling to Antigua, St. Lucia, Aruba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic following these countries’ border reopenings. Another top travel seller, Tom Varghese, also identified the “romance market” as ready to travel to Caribbean destinations this fall, including “clients that are celebrating a delayed honeymoon, anniversary or milestone birthday.”
Here are things Caribbean travelers should consider before departing:
Get tested.
Most Caribbean nations accepting trav
Aelers from the U.S. have designated America as a “high risk” COVID-19 country and thus require travelers from the country to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test within as few as three to five days of arrival.
But standards can vary across the region. Some Caribbean countries, including Aruba, only “encourage” travelers to obtain proof of a negative test prior to arrival. The Dominican Republic recently implemented a Responsible Tourism Recovery Plan under which travelers are no longer required to present a negative COVID-19 test at Dominican airports to enter the country.
Regardless of regulations, it is prudent for travelers to get tested before depart