By Sarah Peter & Kate
Chappell
CASTRIES, St. Lucia/KINGSTON
(Reuters) — A cluster of
Caribbean islands are reopening
this month for international
tourism, hoping to burnish
their reputations as oases
of tranquility after containing
their coronavirus outbreaks
and implementing strict new
public health protocols.
The Caribbean, known
for its palm-fringed beaches,
turquoise water and colonial
towns, is the most tourismdependent
region in the world.
The move is a pilot test for
other regions planning to
restart tourism after pandemic
induced lockdowns.
Antigua and Barbuda, the
U.S. Virgin Islands and St.
Lucia are the first to reopen
this week. Jamaica and Aruba
are set to follow later in the
month, with July target dates
for the Bahamas and the
Dominican Republic.
While other tourist hotspots
like Greece aim to limit arrivals
from countries with high
infection rates, the first flights
the Caribbean is receiving are
from the United States, which
has the world’s highest number
of reported cases.
But local tourism officials say
they have little choice. Americans
Caribbean L 20 ife, June 12-18, 2020
accounted for almost half
the Caribbean’s 31.5 million
visitors last year.
“What are we going to wait
for? A vaccine? Shut down the
country for two years?” Antigua
and Barbuda’s Tourism
Minister Charles Fernandez
said in an interview.
Instead, the islands reopening
will conduct health
screening, including temperature
checks upon arrival, and
require or encourage the use of
face masks in public spaces.
They are divided though over
whether to test – as recommended
by the Caribbean Public
Health Agency – because of
cost, reliability and availability
concerns. Without testing,
asymptomatic visitors could be
a risk.
Antigua and Barbuda will
conduct a rapid coronavirus
test of visitors upon arrival,
said Fernandez.
St. Lucia Prime Minister,
Allen Chastanet told Reuters it
would require a certificate for a
negative coronavirus test conducted
in the 48 hours before
departure.
It remains unclear if this
would work, given tests are not
widely available on demand in
the United States.
Concerns remain over reopenings
in countries that do
not require testing of arrivals,
like Jamaica.
“People should object, as
should anyone who has done
what they have done to flatten
the curve of new cases,”
said civil rights advocate Carol
Narcisse, noting Jamaica has
warned of a likely new rise in
cases.
“Whose interest is the government
really serving here?”
‘GENERATION C’
The coronavirus era has
uprooted Caribbean carnival
celebrations, nights out clubbing
and resort buffets.
A security agent wearing a protective mask walks on the
beach amid concerns about the spread of the coronavirus
disease (COVID-19), in Varadero, Cuba, April 10, 2020.
REUTERS / Alexandre Meneghini / File Photo
Still, the tourism industry
hopes the mere appeal of sun,
sea and the outdoors will suffice.
“Post-coronavirus, people
want to get outside,” said Marc
Melville, the head of Jamaicabased
Chukka Tours.
Caribbean nations, which
were quick to shut their borders
and impose strict lockdowns
as the pandemic spread,
hope to market themselves as
safe destinations.
Antigua and Barbuda and
the U.S. Virgin Islands have
respectively just one and two
reported cases, according to
officials. St. Lucia has none.
Officials want the new tourism
guidelines to reassure
travelers, without being offputting.
Measures include sanitizing
surfaces and social distancing
in hotels, restaurants,
tour operators and taxis.
Sea, sand and social distancing:
Caribbean reopens to tourism
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