Safety Measures

CLEAN BILL

The nations of the Caribbean have put in place a range of confidence-building measures designed to reassure visitors, says Peter Ellegard

While most British holidaymakers were unable to visit the Caribbean between March 2020 and summer 2021 due to the global pandemic and UK Government travel restrictions, many destinations in the region continued to welcome travellers from elsewhere, primarily the U.S.

As a result, safety and health protocols are now well tried, tested and robust. With vaccination programmes for residents also well advanced across much of the Caribbean, it means visitors can look forward to enjoying their holidays with greater confi dence.

Leading resort companies have elevated their standards of quality and cleanliness to instil consumer confi dence. For example, AMResorts has introduced a CleanComplete Verifi cation programme, with protocols that match the highest standards in health and hygiene. Backed by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), measures include ongoing sanitation activity in all areas with high human contact, restrooms regularly sanitised and disinfected, sanitisng gels available throughout the resort, distancing between beach and pool loungers and other protocols around the spa and pool areas.

Sandals Resorts International is offering complimentary Covid-19 testing to all guests across its Sandals and Beaches Resorts prior to their departure, to help them meet UK reentry requirements.

And many individual hotels have also introduced their own initiatives. For example, in Barbados, the Crane Resort opened the Caribbean’s fi rst on-site hotel PCR COVID testing lab. The ‘Jetsetter’ launch package (£79) includes a Rapid Antigen test prior to departure to the UK. In the event of a positive test, Crane guests are offered a luxury ‘isolation suite’ with kitchen, living area and a private pool, free of charge.

It seems probable that some Caribbean destinations will likely remain closed to international travel longer than others, but since July 19 2021 the UK Government has no longer been recommending against travel to amber list countries – which includes many Caribbean nations. Also, as of September1 2021, several Caribbean countries are on the green list – meaning visitors do not have to quarantine on their return to the UK (but they must take a Covid-19 test on or before their second day back).

Of course, UK regulations are only one side of the coin. In the Caribbean itself, it seems likely that most nations for the foreseeable future will only permit entry to fully-vaccinated travellers, perhaps with exemptions for under-18s, with visitors needing to submit a negative result from a PCR test taken within days of their arrival.

There will also be tests on arrival, with visitors required to stay in their hotel or villa pending the results.

However, with the situation so fl uid readers are advised to check the websites of individual destinations for the up- to-date regulations and entry requirements.

New health and safety protocols are in place

HEALTHIER, SAFER TRAVEL WITH CARPHA

The Caribbean’s Public Health Agency (CARPHA), through its Regional Tourism and Health Program, has launched two innovative and dynamic tools to improve travellers’ confi dence and reinstate healthier and safer travel to the Caribbean.

The Caribbean’s Public Health Agency (CARPHA) has launched two innovative dynamic tools to improve travellers’ confi dence

The Caribbean Traveller’s Health Assurance Stamp for Healthier, Safer Tourism (HST) assists travellers in making ‘safer choices’ when choosing tourism facilities and services in the Caribbean. The HST Stamp, endorsed by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) and the World Travel Tourism Council (WTTC), recognises suppliers that implement the recommended COVID-19 health measures.

A second tool, the Caribbean Traveller’s Health Mobile App, is a health information bank that provides information by destination, including entry requirements, health alerts, HST Stamp awardees, COVID-19 prevention measures and the option of confi dentially reporting an illness. Downloadthe free app on Apple Store and Google Play. See: carpha.org/ thp/healthier-safer-tourism •

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