Tourism is the lifeblood of the economy in the Bahamas, and the country decided to open to tourists from 1st July. However, the decision to allow in US tourists and allow locals to travel to and from the USA without testing has led to another lock down. By 22nd July it had closed its borders to US travellers. By 24th July, the islands had a total three-day lockdown and instigated a compulsory 14-day quarantine for all travellers.
Daily new cases of COVID-19 increased in the Bahamas when the borders reopened.
The Bahamian government issued a mandatory lockdown from 24-26 July 26 that required all residents to not leave their homes unless it was for urgent medical attention or food.
All inter-island travel discontinued and anyone travelling domestically between the islands will also now have to quarantine for 14 days.
Now all travellers regardless where they are flying from will face a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a state run facility, at their own cost. Then visitors will undergo a PCR COVID-19 test at the end of their isolation period, again at the cost of the traveller before they are able to begin their vacation.
On 22nd July, the Bahamas closed their borders to US travellers but continued to welcome tourists from Canada, the U.K. and the E.U.
The new orders no longer include COVID-19 PCR pre-travel testing stipulation and the country has scrapped the previous requirement that travellers complete an online Health Visa form.
The Bahamas has banned most international flights with the exception of flights from Canada, the United Kingdom and EU nations.
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism has re-opened to tourism and health tourism. The Ministry has said it is an absolute baseline requirement for consumers to have a comfort level that the Bahamas is a safe and healthy destination to visit, and the ultimate goal is for that to remain the case.
Hotels, resorts and vacation rentals will enforce extensive health and safety protocols.
The Bahamas promotes a limited amount of health and wellness tourism where facilities will have to comply with the new rules.
A Certification Agency has been established – a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health, and other regulatory agencies – to enforce a Clean & Pristine certification programme across the islands.
All tourism and health 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.
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