(TAN): Barbados is planning to reopen to international tourists starting July 12, reports said.
Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley reportedly announced the move, adding the eastern Caribbean island nation will assume a “risk-based approach” for the reopening.
“We will continue to take a risk-based approach to the protection of our country, our people and our visitors,” Prime Minister Mottley was quoted by the Caribbean Journal as saying.
Visitors will reportedly be required to submit a negative COVID-19 test result of a PCR COVID-19 test and a bar code to enter the country.
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Travellers from high-risk countries are “strongly encouraged” to take a COVID-19 PCR test within 72 hours before departing for Barbados, as per reports. “High risk” countries reportedly include those with over 10,000 cases in the past seven days, with community transmission, which would constitute the United States. Holidaymakers from “low risk” countries, those with fewer than 100 new cases in the past seven days, can take their test within one week before departure, according to reports.
Tourists will also have to fill out an online Embarkation/Disembarkation Card (ED card), responding to health questions associated with COVID-19 symptoms, reports said.
Visitors that fail to present a negative PCR test result will be required to take one upon arrival, and will be quarantined until the results come through, which can take an estimated 48 hours, as per reports. The quarantined individuals will reportedly have to bear their own expenses for the period of isolation. Those that fail the test will be put back in isolation “where they will receive care from the Ministry of Health and Wellness”, a report said.
According to reports, JetBlue will resume service to Barbados on July 25 while American Airlines will start flying to the Caribbean destination beginning August 5. British Airways will reportedly relaunch flights to the island from London Gatwick on July 18.
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Barbados will reportedly root for a strategy for tourists to stay longer on the island in the near future.
“We want to create an environment that will allow people to come to Barbados to work, to rest, and to play from here for an extended period of time during COVID-19,” Prime Minister Mottley was quoted by Travel + Leisure as saying.
The move to open to visitors came after the island nation reported no new cases of infection in 35 days, reports said. The country has so far reported 97 cases including seven deaths, as per data from Johns Hopkins University.
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