Loop News
The Bahamas will reopen beaches and major hotels from October 15 as the country implements phase three of the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan ahead of the busy holiday season.
Minister of Tourism and Aviation Dionisio D’Aguilar announced the date of the third phase on Monday.
D’Aguilar announced that all hotel guests must abide by a 14-day Vacation-In-Place (VIP), which will allow guests access to all amenities, including hotel spas, gyms, bars and more. Additionally, Phase 3 will also see the reopening of attractions, excursions and tours on November 1.
Ahead of the reopening, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation is working with airline partners to secure direct airlift from key markets where the curve has been flattened.
Additionally, the Ministry’s communication team is prepared to commence an agile marketing campaign, complete with authentic storytelling and aggressive PR and sales strategies, leaning into current travel trends, such as the preference for vacations closer to home, as well as options that afford seclusion and outdoor pursuits.
Following the safe move into Phase 3, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation along with the Ministry of Health and other government agencies will recommend an appropriate date to enter Phase 4, which pertains to the reopening of vendors, select attractions, casinos, cruises and ferries.
Effective, September 1, 2020, the Bahamian government announced new entry requirements, including:
- Approved Bahamas Health Visa available at travel.gov.bs
- Proof of a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken no more than five (5) days prior to arrival
- The only applicants who are not required to provide a COVID-19 test are:
- Children under the age of ten (10)
- Pilots and crew who remain overnight in The Bahamas.
- The only applicants who are not required to provide a COVID-19 test are:
- Mandatory 14-day Vacation-In-Place (VIP) Experience at a hotel, private club or rented accommodations (like Airbnb), as well as on a private boat.
It is recommended that all travellers interested in visiting The Bahamas review requirements applicable to each member of their party at Bahamas.com/travelupdates before booking a trip, to determine what steps need to be taken to be granted entry. More details on the Minister’s address and the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan may also be found at Bahamas.com/travelupdates.