Has COVID-19 put a halt on your summer vacation plans? Well, we have bought good news for you! The US territory has officially reopened their border for leisure tourists. In fact, US Virgin Island has the most hotels currently open, including the prominent properties in St. Croix such as the Hotel Caravelle, The Buccaneer, Sand Castle on the Beach, and The Fred, among others.
US Virgin Islands is the first Caribbean destination which officially reopens for tourism. USVI Tourism Commissioner Joseph Boschulte announced that while visitors will be able to return to USVI next week, the COVID-19 emergency state of the territory would remain in effect until at least July 11.
The statement was as follows, “Over the past several weeks, we have built up mitigation and response capacity for COVID-19 and prepared protocols to protect residents and visitors’ health and safety. In response to what other destinations are doing, we did not want to try to reopen. Rather, in collaboration with the Virgin Islands Department of Health and Federal guidelines from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, we engaged in data-driven, risk-based research with other stakeholders.
Airlines Precautionary Measure
US Virgin Island Welcoming Tourist Again
The USVI Department of Tourism has prepared Health & Safety Guidelines for the tourism industry. As the travel industry reopens after COVID-19 shutdowns, We recommend you to speak to your doctor, follow the advice of health authorities, and check out local travel restrictions prior to booking your trip. Whether it’s next month or next year, we will be here to help you plan.
1. ARUBA
The sunny shores of Aruba welcome tourists once again! As a country that is heavily reliant on tourism, people of Aruba have deeply missed tourists during the pandemic, and they look forward to welcoming the tourists again with love and appreciation, by keeping health and security as the most important priority on One Happy Island.
Aruba’s careful reopening will take place in this phase, closely supervised by the Aruba government and the Department of Public Health and our most current reopening dates by region and country are as follows:
June 15, 2020 – Bonaire & Curacao
July 1, 2020 – Europe
July 1, 2020 – The Caribbean (Excluding the Dominican Republic & Haiti)
July 1, 2020 – Canada
July 10, 2020 – The United States of America
2. JAMAICA UPDATE
Jamaica has reopened its borders to all international tourists since June 15th. Each passenger arriving in Jamaica will be needed to have Travel Authorization before check-in for a flight to Jamaica. Everyone entering Jamaica will be subject to a COVID-19 check. The testing applies to nationals as well as tourists. Unlike some opening countries around the world, Jamaica does not limit incoming travelers from any country.
3. ST. LUCIA
If you are willing to venture outside the U.S., St. Lucia’s Caribbean island nation is waiting with open arms. Since June 4th St. Lucia has accepted visitors but has introduced extremely strict distancing protocols for its first reopening process. But travelers will be able to enjoy a slightly more holiday-like experience in St. Lucia from July 9th.
Under the new guidelines, travelers must apply for a COVID-19 negative PCR check within seven days of their arrival in St. Lucia. This criterion replaces the previous constraint, which required evidence of a clean check within 48 hours of departure time.
Travelers will need to fill in a pre-arrival registration form specifying safe health and indicating the COVID-19 accredited hotel they will stay at upon entry. The rule will come into effect on July 9th, and be renewed after 30 days.
4. PUERTO RICO
On July 15, 2020, Puerto Rico will reopen officially to all international travelers. Although there are currently no limits on who can access Puerto Rico once the island reopened, a set of rules and regulations have been announced by the Tourism Board to keep everyone safe.
Although you are required to take a COVID-19 test within 72 hours of arrival, your results may not be ready by then. You will be required to undergo 14 days of quarantine if you arrive with your Travel Declaration Form and proof that you have submitted for a test within the required time frame. The quarantine will be lifted if the Puerto Rico Department of Health issues the test results online.
5. DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
Dominican Republic Tourist Board released their statement outlining travel protocols effective July 1st. Currently, passengers are not being asked to conduct the PCR test before arrival or testing on arrival. Passengers will have their screening test taken upon their arrival into the Dominican Republic. As a part of immigration, forms will be provided by airlines to present Health certificate.
Travel Restrictions Associated with US Virgin Island
- All the Travelers whose state has Covid-19 positivity rate greater than 10 per cent will have to present a negative PCR test, five days prior to travel to the US Virgin Island.
- The COVID-19 test needs to be presented if you have to spend more than 7 days in the state which has corona positivity greater than 10%.
- If travelers are unable to provide the PCR test then they will have to quarantine for 14 Days until they are able to get their required test results on the US Virgin Island.
- 4. As per the USVI guidelines, all the arriving travelers have to wear a facial covering mask.
- All the arriving passengers will be given a notice about going through the Covid-19 screening procedure after their arrival on Island. Upon the arrival, all travelers will be escorted to the Virgin Islands Port Authority temperature checkpoint to complete a traveler Screening Questionnaire.
- After the temperature screening test, if the passenger is traveler then, he/she will be requested to go directly at their accommodation and will be required to self-quarantine until the Covid-19 testing by the team gets back within 24 hours.
