St. Lucia opens to Tourists from June as the government of St Lucia announces a phased opening of its tourism sector from June 4th 2020.
Unveiled by Minister of Tourism Dominic Fedee, this responsible re-opening will protect nationals and visitors from the threat of COVID-19 through advance testing; daily screening and monitoring of staff and visitors; sanitisation at various points throughout the travellers’ journey; and new social distancing protocols.
It commences with selected international flights arriving at Hewanorra International Airport only from the United States, to begin with. Travellers are advised to check with airlines regarding flight schedules and rules prior to booking. In anticipation of these first visitors, some 1,500 hotel rooms in Saint Lucia are being prepared to open in early June, pending completion of a new COVID-19 certification process.
Saint Lucia closed its borders to international markets on March 23, 2020. Since then, the island has followed safety protocols recommended by the World Health Organisation and the Caribbean Public Health Agency, collaborated with the local Department of Health and Wellness, observed shelter-in-place guidelines, and created a COVID-19 Task Force to plan for a responsible reopening.
To date, Saint Lucia has recorded 18 cases of COVID-19, and all individuals have fully recovered. No active cases are currently being investigated.
New opening guidelines at a glance
New procedures span from the hotel booking process to the airport arrival and hotel experience in Saint Lucia. Protocols include:
Visitors are required to present certified proof of a negative COVID-19 test, taken within 48 hours of boarding their flight.
On arrival in Saint Lucia, all travellers must continue the use of face masks and social distancing
Travellers will be subject to screening and temperature checks by port health authorities.
Protocols are being established for taxis, to provide safety precautions and separate the driver from guests as an added security measure.
Health and safety protocols will be reinforced through the use of signage that includes QR codes which take travellers to a landing page for more information
To further ensure that Saint Lucia remains a safe and responsible destination, the government is developing a COVID-19 Certificate for hotels. Hotels must meet a dozen or more specific criteria for sanitisation, social distancing and other COVID-19 protocols before they will be permitted to open to guests. These measures will enhance the protection of visitors, staff and Saint Lucian nationals.
In Phase One, registered hotels and travel providers will work with visitors directly to arrange safe experiences.
“Our new protocols have been carefully crafted and will build confidence among travellers and our citizens,” stated the Honourable Dominic Fedee. He noted, “The Government of Saint Lucia remains resolved to protect both lives and livelihoods as it jump-starts its economy.”
Phase Two of the island’s responsible approach to tourism is planned to commence on August 1, 2020, with details to be revealed in the weeks ahead.
Click here for more information about Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 response
