The Latest Travel News as of June 30th 2020
The European Union announced Tuesday that it will reopen its borders to travelers from 14 countries, but most Americans have been refused entry for at least another two weeks due to soaring coronavirus infections in the U.S.
Although the U.S. did not make the list, Canada did. Travelers from other big countries like Russia, Brazil and India will also miss out.
The federal government is imposing strict, mandatory quarantine rules on travellers returning to Canada and is promising heavy fines and jail time for those who ignore the warning.
Health Minister Patty Hajdu said “all travellers returning to Canada — with the exception of what the federal government is calling "essential workers" — will have to enter a mandatory 14 days of isolation under the Quarantine Act whether or not they have symptoms of coronavirus”.
"This new measure will provide the clarity for those re-entering the country about the essential need to self-isolate," she told the Senate, where she was discussing the Liberal government's emergency legislation to free up billions of dollars to help Canadians weather the COVID-19 crisis.
This does mean that if you choose to travel you will be subject to these strict measures on your return an unless you are working from home an won’t have a problem with the quarantine should delay any travel till later in the year.
Despite the Quarantine Air Canada, Transat, Lufthansa and more are offering flights to Europe this summer, as the aviation industry tries to salvage some small part of the normally lucrative transatlantic high season.
Travellers at Frankfurt airport, one of Europe’s busiest, will be able to get an on-site coronavirus test before jetting off. The walk-in testing centre opened today. Fast-track tests providing results within two to three hours will cost 139 euros ($156). Regular tests with results available within six to 12 hours cost 59 euros ($52).
In mid-June Travelweek reported on a new website with travel info and regulations for travel to and within the EU in the wake of COVID-19.
The new interactive site, called ‘Re-open EU’, is aimed at supporting a safe relaunch of travelling and tourism across Europe.
Dana Welch, Manager, Canada for Tourism Ireland and also chair of ETC’s Canada Chapter, notes that the platform provides real-time information on borders and available means of transport and tourism services, as well as health and safety measures and restrictions across all EU Member States (27 countries).
Airlines, hotels, resorts and ground handlers have invested heavily in health and safety protocols and are eager to welcome travellers back.
LATEST UPDATES: June 25 – St. Vincent and the Grenadines; June 24 – Anguilla, Grenada; June 22 – Cuba; June 18 – Puerto Rico
THE CARIBBEAN
ANGUILLA
Anguilla is getting ready to reopen its borders after being declared COVID-19-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). For now Anguilla’s borders remain closed to commercial international traffic through June 30. WHO recently changed Anguilla’s classification status from “sporadic cases” to “no cases” in its situation report on June 22nd.
ANTIGUA & BARBUDA
Antigua & Barbuda welcomed back travellers starting June 4 with the first commercial flight. International and regional travellers are able to travel to Antigua & Barbuda keeping in mind the safety protocols. All arriving passengers must have a mask in their possession for use on disembarkation, which must be worn in public areas throughout their stay in destination. All arriving passengers must complete a health declaration form. Screenings and thermal checks will occur on arrival and passengers may be asked to undergo coronavirus testing on arrival. With regard to airport transfers, up to four members of a family are allowed in a single vehicle while larger commercial passenger transport vehicles are permitted to carry only 50% of the vehicle seating capacity. For more details see https://visitantiguabarbuda.com/travel-advisory/.
ARUBA
Aruba has officially reopened its borders and is once again welcoming inbound travellers in a phased-in approach. Starting June 15 Aruba opened its doors to visitors from Bonaire and Curaçao. Visitors from Canada, Europe and the rest of the Caribbean (with the exception of the D.R. and Haiti), will be welcomed back on July 1. Visitors from the U.S. are welcome back starting July 10. Travellers will be required to follow a new embarkation and disembarkation process to enter the country. In addition to social distancing, Aruba is placing temporary capacity limits on some of the more popular tourist destinations to decrease the flow of visitors at peak times in more heavily trafficked areas, without limiting overall access. Plus, a new safety and hygiene program in partnership with key private sector stakeholders has been developed and launched. The ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code’, which outlines stringent cleaning and hygiene standards, is mandatory for all tourism-related businesses throughout the country. This protocol will ensure tourism businesses adhere to the strict guidelines for health, sanitation, and social distancing protocols. Each business will go through a checklist of new rules and regulations on how to operate in a COVID-19 world. Upon completion, businesses will be inspected by the Department of Public Health and receive a Code Gold Certification once approved. For more details see Aruba.com.
BAHAMAS
The Bahamas is reopening its borders and tourism sector on July 1 with the resumption of international travel, including both international and domestic commercial airlines. At airports and seaports, temperature screenings will be conducted for all incoming visitors, and travellers are required to wear a face mask where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing, such as when entering and transiting air and sea terminals, at customs screenings and baggage claim.
A full list of health and safety protocols for accommodations, transportation, excursions, tours, attractions, ferries and restaurants can be found here. These include the discontinuation of buffets at restaurants until further notice, a reduced capacity of 50% on ferries, a maximum number of guests on excursions, tours and attractions, and a limited number of guests in hotel elevators at one time.
BERMUDA
Bermuda plans to reopen its borders to air travellers, resuming international commercial air service on July 1. The resumption of cruise ships to the island remains unknown at this time. Prior to departing for Bermuda, travellers should obtain a certified negative PCR COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure, obtain appropriate health insurance, wear face masks and practice physical distancing when travelling to the departure airport and while at the airport, and complete a screening form and arrival card. Face masks and physical distancing are also required in-flight (to the extent possible) and upon arrival. Upon departure home, the same requirements when arriving in Bermuda apply, plus pre-boarding screening in the form of a temperature check will be conducted if the jurisdiction requires it.
For more information go to https://www.gotobermuda.com/bta/press-release/bermuda-tourism-authority-update.
CUBA
The Cuba Tourist Board says Cuba’s travel restrictions will begin to lift on July 1. During its temporary closure to international travellers, the Cuban government took various steps to improve all hotels and its tourism infrastructure. Hygiene and sanitary protocols were put in place to ensure the safety of residents and international visitors.
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
The Dominican Republic will be ready to receive international visitors starting July 1, 2020, when phase 4 of its phased reopening plans commences. In phase 4, most hotels as well as airports, gyms and restaurants will reopen with hygiene, disinfection and social distancing protocols in place. The country’s borders will remain closed until July 1 by land, sea and air. All flights to and from the Dominican Republic will be suspended along with the arrival and departure of all cruises in all ports in the country. For more information go to https://www.godominicanrepublic.com/newsroom/coronavirus/.
GRENADA
Grenada is set to reopen its airport on July 1, with commercial flights resuming on this day or close to this day. All visitors are subject to health and safety protocols upon arrival, including mandatory masks, physical distancing and COVID-19 testing, which costs approximately US$75.
PUERTO RICO
Puerto Rico will be ready to welcome back travellers on July 15 as part of its third phase of economic reopening. Hotels throughout the destinations have remained open throughout to island residents. Starting July 15, all commercial spaces such as pools, bars, restaurants and shops within hotels will operate at 50% capacity in order to promote social distancing. Tourist attractions and popular sites are also open during this phase, while tour operators and businesses that rent equipment used for tourist activities are also authorized to resume operations.
The island’s main airport, Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, is using advanced technology to automatically gauge incoming travellers’ temperature and has staff on site to administer a quick health check-up to arriving passengers.
The government of Puerto Rico is working on exception to the mandatory 14-day quarantine that remains in effect, for passengers arriving on or after July 15 who provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test. Further details will be coming in upcoming days.
SAINT LUCIA
In Saint Lucia, a phased approach to reopening started June 4. Phase One includes welcoming international flights at Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) from the U.S. only. In anticipation of upcoming flights, some 1,500 hotel rooms on the island are being prepared to open in early June. Visitors are required to present certified proof of a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of boarding their flight. Upon arrival in Saint Lucia, all travellers must continue the use of face masks and physical distancing. Travellers will be subject to screening and temperature checks by port health authorities. Phase Two will commence on Aug. 1. For more see https://www.stlucia.org/en/covid-19/.
ST. MARTIN / SINT-MAARTEN
A phased reopening of Princess Juliana International Airport may be scheduled from July 1. Currently only cargo flights and medical evacuations are allowed to operate. At Grand Case airport, commercial flights between Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Barthelemy and St. Martin have resumed. All establishments and businesses, bars and restaurants included, are open, however wearing a mask is mandatory. There is free circulation on both sides of the Friendly Island. For the inter-island ferry station, connections between Saint-Martin and Anguilla are suspended until further notice departing from the Ferry Station in Marigot. Connections with St. Barthelemy have resumed. For more information see sintmaartengov.org/coronavirus.
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has announced new entry requirements for travellers just in time for Air Canada Rouge flights starting in July. A list of requirements fort phase 1 1ravellers, from July 1-30, 2020, can be found here. In phase 2, which begins on Aug. 1, 2020 and based on the data gained during phase 1 and the current epidemiology of the COVID-19 pandemic, travellers arriving will be subjected to PCR COVID-19 testing, depending on their country of origin. For more details go to http://health.gov.vc/health/index.php/c and https://www.facebook.com/SVGHEALTH/.
TURKS & CAICOS
Turks and Caicos plans to reopen its borders and begin welcoming visitors starting July 22. The destination’s airline partners have confirmed flight service will resume from within the U.S., Canada, and Europe as soon as the destination is ready. Private jet terminals will open on July 22 as well in conjunction with the reopening of Providenciales International Airport. The Grand Turk Cruise Center will remain closed until Aug. 31. The Islands’ hotels and resorts, private villas, restaurants and bars, and tour operators are simultaneously finalizing protocols and gearing up to accept bookings. See www.turksandcaicostourism.com.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
The U.S. Virgin Islands reopened on June 1 to all travellers. Travellers are asked to travel with PPE include masks, wipes, sanitizers, etc. Health screening protocols are in place for all arrivals and symptomatic travellers will be referred to the Dept. of Health. Seating capacity will be 50% in vans and safari vehicles. See https://www.visitusvi.com.
MEXICO
Los Cabos
On June 1 Los Cabos launched Phase I of a five-phase approach that applies to all travel sectors and service operators. Upon completion, hotels, timeshares and some travel operators will be able to resume activities. The Los Cabos Tourism Board also confirmed that 62% of the destination’s hotel inventory will resume operations, while airlines including AS, AA, WN and DL have announced their return. Los Cabos is projecting the return of Canadian travellers as part of Phase IV, between October and December 2020. See https://www.visitloscabos.travel/industry/health-safety-standards/.
Quintana Roo
The Quintana Roo Tourism Board, which represents 12 destinations in the Mexican Caribbean including Cancun, Riviera Maya and Playa del Carmen, started its gradual reopening on June 8 with 30% of hotels in operation. By July 1, 75% are expected to be open. Cancun and Cozumel International Airports have introduced several safety protocols, including: permanent temperature checks for all passengers; social distancing measures; the installation of protective screens; sanitization and deep cleaning; and a travel questionnaire to identify risk factors. According to the Tourism Board’s Director, Dario Flota, the Mexican government does not plan to enforce mandatory quarantines for visitors – only for those presenting symptoms and who test positive for COVID-19. For more information go to www.mexicancaribbean.travel.
Riviera Nayarit
June 15 marked the official reopening of Riviera Nayarit, with some hotels, restaurants and businesses in the tourism sector welcoming back international travellers. To ensure safe social distancing on property, all reopened businesses are operating at just 30% capacity. Other businesses will gradually reopen in the upcoming weeks. Riviera Nayarit joins the growing list of global destinations to earn the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travel Stamp, granted to destinations and hotels that have adopted WTTC-approved health and hygiene protocols. All travellers arriving at Puerto Vallarta International Airport (PVR) will undergo temperature screenings via thermal imaging cameras upon arrival and departure. For more information go to https://www.aeropuertosgap.com.mx/en/ and https://www.rivieranayarit.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/English-PROTOCOLO-DE-REFORZAMIENTO-EN-LOS-PUNTOS-DE-ENTRADA-INTERNACIONAL-APTO-PVR.pdf.
EUROPE
On June 15 select European countries began opening their borders to travellers from other European countries. However, while the European Commission has recommended that all Schengen area and EU countries reopen their internal borders to get tourism started again, the final decision is up to each individual country.
In the meantime, a new website from the EU, ‘Re-open EU’, is an interactive tool which aims to support a safe relaunch of travelling and tourism across Europe. The platform provides real-time information on borders and available means of transport and tourism services, as well as health and safety measures and restrictions across all EU Member States (27 countries). It is available in all 24 languages of the EU.
Information is changing all the time and I’m very grateful to our Trade Magazine partners like Travelweek for keeping agents informed so we can pass on the information to our clients.
Please feel free to let me know if I can help you plan your #Vacation or #Staycation.
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