LEFT to the Caribbean’s hoteliers and tourism operators, more would be done, together and faster, to ensure the region’s tourism recovery, after two years of COVID-19 is sooner than later – and starting now.

But while they’ve been able to keep businesses afloat, thanks to some of CARICOM governments’ proactive policies since the pandemic was declared in March 2020, tourism industry personnel feel the region’s leaders need to do much more than now, if Caribbean tourism’s revival is not to lag too far behind.

The private Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association (CHTA), therefore, decided to urgently write directly to CARICOM Chair, Prime Minister Gaston Brown of Antigua and Barbuda, on the issue.

In a letter on the last day of 2021, signed by CHTA President, Nicola Madden-Greig, and copied to all other Caribbean Heads of Government, the CHTA said that, with “the benefit of new data, particularly about the Omicron variant,” it offered the industry’s “observations and recommendations” in support of “balancing the need to protect both lives and livelihoods” as the region moves towards post-COVID recovery.

The December 31, 2021 CHTA letter said: “While Omicron has proven to be highly contagious, the latest research — including data outlined in a December 23, 2021 Technical Briefing by the UK Health Security Agency and information provided by the South African Government (where the variant was initially detected) — provide some measure of encouragement,” in terms of “a low level of severe illness requiring hospitalisation and a low death rate from the Omicron variant of COVID-19.”

CHTA says indications also point to “a faster recovery period from infection, further justifying recent moves by the US and UK governments to reduce the isolation period to five and seven days, respectively; and Ontario (Canada) to relax more stringent testing and isolation requirements” recently put in place.

Anticipating “a surge in Omicron cases throughout the region in the coming weeks,” the CHTA urged CARICOM Heads of Government to “steady the course” adopted since the start of the pandemic – of “resisting the closing of borders and instituting onerous travel restrictions, inclusive of lengthy isolation periods”.

With tourism’s pervasive impact on member-states’ economies, employment and tax revenue, the CHTA told the leaders, “The unintended consequences of excessive restrictive policies that deter travel by making destinations less attractive goes well beyond hotels, affecting restaurants, vendors, taxis, attractions, wholesalers and countless other businesses and livelihoods.”

It said the policies CARICOM embraced and efforts of health and tourism officials across the region and the industry’s adherence to health safety protocols, “have set the stage for our recovery”.

However, the CHTA President said, “Over-reaction and potential missteps over the coming critical weeks can reverse the progress we’ve made towards recovery.”

She noted that “Omicron’s low severity, particularly for those with induced (vaccinated) and natural immunities (previously infected individuals) — which… is estimated at a combined rate of over 50 per cent of the Caribbean’s population — sheds new light and is instructional in any formulation of policies and protocols and areas of public and private sector focus over the coming weeks.”

The CHTA is calling for “Regional Harmonisation of Travel Policies”, explaining that the lack of harmonisation by jurisdictions for entry, testing and isolation/quarantine requirements “will continue to cause confusion in the marketplace, deterring travel, and slowing our recovery”.

Regarding “Isolation Protocols”, CHTA says both the US and UK Governments have reduced their isolation periods for COVID-positive persons, with the US allowing for five days and the UK at seven days confinement.

Some Caribbean jurisdictions still require as much as 14 days in isolation, but the CHTA argues that “The data no longer substantiates that length of time… and increasingly will deter travel.”

The regional tourism body therefore recommends reducing Caribbean isolation time by half — to seven days.
Regarding ‘Allowable COVID Tests’, CHTA says Omicron “is placing a global strain on the cost and availability of COVID-19 tests” and the turnaround time for processing PCR tests (in particular) and recommends that Antigen tests approved by WHO be accepted for entry.

CHTA also supports use of WHO approved at-home test kits, specifically those which have measures in place to verify the identity of the individual being tested.

Regarding Testing Time-Periods, CHTA points out that “Prior to Travel to the Caribbean, a 24-hour time period for securing a test and negative results prior to travel is presenting a challenge to many prospective travellers, given the high demand for tests and the short time period for processing the tests” – and therefore recommends a 72-hour window “as a minimum…”

On the hot issue of Cost of COVID Tests, CHTA notes: “The high cost of PCR tests remains a problem and places particular undue financial burden on Caribbean residents. Intra-Caribbean travel’s rebound continues to underperform that which we are seeing with travel to the region.”
The grouping therefore recommends “greater flexibility in sourcing tests by local health authorities and local efforts to work with suppliers to reduce the cost”.

The CHTA’s letter was also copied to: Caribbean Ministers of Tourism and Health, CARICOM Secretary- General, Dr. Carla Barnett, Chair of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and Barbados’ Minister of Tourism and International Transportation, Lisa Cummins; Jamaica Minister of Tourism and Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, Edmund Bartlett, Director General of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Dr. Didacus Jules, Executive Director of the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) Dr. Joy St. John, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, Ms. Julia Simpson, as well as Caribbean Directors of Tourism, Caribbean National Hotel and Tourism Association Executives and Presidents.

It’s a long mailing list with an equally-long list of recommendations, but the CHTA’s decision to directly engage CARICOM leaders, together and individually, also stems from a strong feeling in many national tourism and private sector circles that Caribbean people are more negatively affected by inflexible government COVID protocols, than by the virus.