Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation is preparing for Phase 2 of its Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan, which will begin on Wednesday, July 1 and allow for the resumption of international travel to The Bahamas, with the exception of visitors from China, Iran, Italy and France.
Visitors to The Bahamas will have to present negative COVID-19 tests and complete electronic health visas to be granted entry. The results of the incoming tourist’s COVID-19 RT-PCR swab test must be no more than 10 days old.
Select individuals will be exempt from testing, which includes children under the age of two, private pilots who do not deplane, and Bahamian citizens, residents and homeowners returning from English speaking CARICOM countries.
No quarantine will be required upon arrival, however, travelers who show symptoms of COVID-19 may be transferred to an area away from other passengers for further testing and evaluation.
All inter-island travelers must complete an electronic domestic travel form at travel.gov.bs prior to departure and for any inter-island travel within The Bahamas. An automated response will be provided upon completion. All travelers must have their confirmation on hand upon arrival to their destination. This is a crucial step for contact tracing purposes.
At airports and seaports, healthcare personnel will conduct temperature screenings for all incoming visitors. Travelers will be required to wear a face mask in any situation where it is necessary to enforce physical distancing guidelines, such as when entering and transiting air and sea terminals, while navigating security and customs screenings, and at baggage claim.
As part of Phase 2, all hotels and vacation rentals will be open. Domestic and international airlines are permitted to resume service, and many are beginning to announce plans for their return to The Bahamas.
Delta Airlines will be resuming its twice daily Atlanta to Nassau service July 2. United Airlines announced its daily Houston to Nassau service will resume July 6 and the Saturday-only Denver to Nassau service will resume July 11. American Airlines will resume flights to Nassau and Exuma on July 7. Air Canada is scheduled to resume flights from Toronto to Nassau on July 3, 2020. Additional airlift resumptions are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
This July 1 tourism re-entry builds on, and supports, existing government rules and regulations, which already allows for the resumption of travel for international boaters, yachters and those traveling on private planes and jets, as well as inter-island domestic travel for Bahamian citizens and residents.
Once on island, travelers should expect to follow The Bahamas’ “Healthy Traveler Campaign” that encourages both visitors and residents to continue practicing social distancing measures, regularly wash hands or use hand sanitizers, and pack appropriate PPE such as face masks, just as they would their swimsuits and sunscreen.
A Certification Agency has been established representing a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health, and other regulatory agencies to enforce a Clean & Pristine certification program across the islands. All tourism-related, customer-facing entities in The Bahamas must verify they have in place and are adhering to the government approved health and safety guidelines to receive Clean & Pristine certification. Adequate signage outlining policies will be clearly displayed at all locations helping to guide staff and visitors. Travelers are encouraged to visit direct business websites prior to booking or traveling to ensure they are aware and comfortable with the policies they will need to abide by.
Additional details about on-island protocols can be found at bahamas.com/travelupdates. All COVID-19 inquiries should be directed to the Ministry of Health which can be reached at (242) 376-9350 or (242) 376-9387.
For more updates on new protocols, visit Recommend’s Safe Travels page. Stories about future travel can be accessed at #AmazingDaysAhead.
