News of a Delta flight from Atlanta scheduled on July 2, the very next day after St. Maarten reopens its borders to the US, is obviously encouraging. People should not get carried away, as it only concerns 72 passengers and there remains a long way to go before stayover tourism as the island’s main economic engine reaches pre-coronavirus levels, never mind those of before Hurricane Irma.
But a start has at least been made in restoring the population’s primary livelihood, with the necessary precautions to try to prevent new outbreaks. The latter is important for local health reasons, but also because being a so-called “COVID-19 free” destination is part of the reason visitors want to come in the first place.
Requirements include travelling with face masks, screening on arrival and a negative PCR test. Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport and Telecommunication (TEATT) Minister Ludmila de Weever clarified that while the result must have been received within 72 hours prior to departure, the test could have been taken a few days earlier, although she did not specify how many.
Details are understandably still being worked on, but the intention is clearly to provide holidaymakers with a safe yet pleasant vacation experience and at the same time minimise the risk as best possible in a pragmatic manner. That does not depend only on guests, but also on residents and especially hospitality industry employees who are to continue using protective gear and practising social distancing under all circumstances.
Some operational resorts are even reporting significant bookings already next month, which is a good sign. There can thus be little doubt that “The Friendly Island” is on its way back.
