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NASSAU, Bahamas (CMC) – The government of the Bahamas has lifted the mandatory 14-day quarantine, allowing visitors to the Caribbean country to stay in hotels, go to beaches, “enjoy some of our world-famous excursions and activities and , most importantly, to comply with our health and safety protocols ”.
Tourism and Aviation Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar said the new regulation went into effect on Sunday and, as a result, the Emergency Orders will be revised to reflect that change.
He said that when the Bahamas closed its borders in March to protect itself from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, “we never imagined that seven months later the impact of the virus would remain so severe.
“As a country, we have faced many difficulties from this deadly coronavirus. We have made many sacrifices, we have faced enormous financial difficulties, we have endured increasing emotional and mental stress, we have juggled roles and responsibilities, both personally and professionally, and we have had to change our lifestyle exponentially. This has not been easy ”.
He said that unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on global tourism, adding that the latest data from the World Tourism Organization shows that international tourism is down 70 percent.
“Put another way, if we used to receive 7.2 million tourists a year, as we did last year in 2019, the best we can hope for now is 2.2 million tourists a year, a reduction from a staggering number of five million tourists, assuming we all do our part to prevent, slow and stop further community spread of this deadly virus by wearing our masks, social distancing and not congregating in groups, both large and small.
D’Aguilar said that in addition, the World Travel and Tourism Council has just released new research indicating that 174 million travel and tourism jobs could be lost in 2020 if global travel restrictions are maintained.
“Here in the Bahamas, we are seeing and experiencing this data first hand. Tourism is the heart of our economy, accounting for 50 percent of all our GDP (gross domestic product) and 65 percent of our employment. We must safely reopen and restart our tourism sector so that we, as a nation, can begin to recover.
“I firmly believe that together, and with the support and participation of every member of our community, we can move the needle, survive to prosper. We have shown before that we can do this when faced with unthinkable circumstances, like this pandemic. I am fully confident that we can do it one more time. But it takes us all! Each and every one of us is doing our part. “
D’Aguilar said that even though the talks are now about a reopening, the facts on the ground are that the Bahamas has been open to international travel for many months.
“People have always had the freedom to leave the Bahamas without any restrictions, and various airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada and, most recently, American Airlines, have been bringing in travelers, mostly residents and returning citizens, using a schedule. extremely reduced, D’Aguilar said, adding that late last month, the Tourism Ministry began the process of contemplating how to reactivate the tourism sector, given the almost total closure of the sector since mid-March.
D’Aguilar said that to eliminate the mandatory 14-day quarantine, the Tourism Ministry engaged in lengthy consultations with the Health Ministry.
“Initially, we contemplated replacing the mandatory 14-day quarantine with a series of tests, namely a Rapid Antigen test on arrival and a Rapid Antigen test five days after arrival, if the traveler was still in the country. at that moment. As you can imagine, the logistics and complexities of implementing any kind of test in a country with so many islands and, as a consequence, so many ports of entry as we have in The Bahamas, it is not a small company ”.
He said that when the Ministry of Tourism developed that idea, of conducting tests at the border and began to implement it with the great support of various stakeholders, including the Department of Immigration, the use of Rapid Antigen Tests as an effective screening tool. on the border. it was not supported by available research or it was not supported by science.
“As a result, as of November 1, 2020, there will be no tests on arrival. Travelers will enter the Bahamas, as they always have, with their Bahamas health travel visa and attached PCR test, performed within five (5) days prior to arrival, their temperature will be monitored at the airport and any other control than the Public Health Officials and proceed to their final destinations in The Bahamas ”.
He said that since there will no longer be any quarantine requirements, there will be no requirement to sign up for the Hubbcat Monitoring System or go through the time-consuming download process of that application.
D’Aguilar said that the Ministry of Tourism has been working with our airline, hotel, and other tourism partners to strike a balance between following the advice of health professionals to protect the health and well-being of the country and developing protocols that make The Bahamas a more desirable destination for travelers in the era of COVID.
“While the policies themselves may have changed, the overall mandate, to promote the health and safety of both Bahamians and visitors, has not,” D’Aguilar said, noting that while previous efforts to reopen have been limited by strict but necessary requirements, this new process is more comprehensive, more methodical and more accommodated towards the shared vision of a healthy and safe reopening of the tourism industry.
“These new streamlined entry protocols will further simplify travel for both visitors and residents. As of November 1, all persons entering The Bahamas must still obtain a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than five days prior to their arrival date.
“Children under the age of 10, as well as commercial airline pilots and crew staying overnight in the Bahamas, continue to be exempt from this requirement.”
He also said that as of November 1, travelers will have to pay an application fee for their Travel Health Visa.
“Additionally, beginning November 14, all visitors to The Bahamas must purchase COVID-19 health insurance before arriving in The Bahamas. The cost of this compulsory medical insurance will be automatically included in the total cost of the health visa ”.
D’Aguilar said the inclusion of travel medical insurance is to ensure that any visitor who may test positive for the coronavirus while on vacation in The Bahamas or becomes ill from the virus, while in The Bahamas, does not suddenly become a burden on an already overburdened Bahamian public health system.
“This insurance is not intended for Bahamians as they will be returning home and we expect them to use our local healthcare providers and our local medical facilities in the usual way,” he said, adding: “Therefore, I pleased. say that no positive visitor will be a burden to our own healthcare facilities.
“The influx of arriving passengers will not jeopardize the availability of health resources, hospital beds, or COVID-19 testing capabilities for any Bahamian.”
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