Closure of the five-star Santa Barbara Resort in Curaçao (see Tuesday paper) really brought home the current uncertainty in the regional hospitality industry. Other hoteliers there have already warned that more will follow if visitors are not welcomed back until the traditional high season.
The island’s biggest market is the Netherlands, with carriers KLM and TUI wanting to resume regular flights respectively in June and early July. The issue is under what circumstances.
Many destinations are requiring 14 days of mandatory quarantining, which is probably only worth it in case of longer stays. Some are doing pre-flight testing, often combined with screening and/or a second test afterwards. Quarantining in a government-approved facility at one’s own expense only occurs if a COVID-19 infection is suspected on arrival.
As pointed out before, Puerto Rico wants to use rapid tests before boarding the plane that do show false positives but rarely negatives. Travellers found positive can then rebook pending a regular test and fly a few days later once cleared.
Some countries also combine testing with just one week of compulsory quarantine and there are undoubtedly plenty of alternatives. Important is to choose a policy that adequately protects the health of the population yet allows the tourism economy providing their livelihood to quickly – but safely – recover.
Jim Hepple, who has held prominent high-ranking hospitality sector positions in both Aruba and Curaçao, said that while it sounds harsh, one must decide how many imported corona cases and especially deaths are acceptable. His belief is that an infected person among guests passing on the disease locally can never be entirely excluded regardless of whatever precautions.
He could be right. Locking all people on holiday up for two weeks, especially if that is the extent of their vacation, just does not seem like an attractive or even feasible option.
And then there are the cruise passengers who may be tested before boarding the ship but can catch the virus in any port of call. Screening and/or testing for every stop on the itinerary might therefore be required.
There still remain many unanswered questions about tourists in “the new normal.” However, it is also obvious that – like most of the Caribbean – St. Maarten cannot survive without them and needs to accommodate their return as soon as responsibly possible.
There will always be a risk, but the trick is to keep it manageable.
