Advertisement

Frustration on popular Caribbean island over travel corridor snub

The Dominican Republic welcomed 160,000 visitors from the UK, but has been overlooked by the FCO - getty
The Dominican Republic welcomed 160,000 visitors from the UK, but has been overlooked by the FCO - getty

The Dominican Republic is one of the most popular Caribbean destinations for British holidaymakers, with 160,000 visitors from the UK last year. By regional standards the country has been hard hit by Covid-19, with nearly 42,000 confirmed cases and 864 deaths according to the latest figures. But in proportion to the country's population of around 10.8 million, the number of cases and fatalities per capita are far lower than in the UK.

For that reason the Dominican Republic, whose economy is very heavily dependent on tourism, is disappointed not to be on the UK government's "travel corridor" list – that is, the countries from which there is no requirement to self-isolate on your return to the UK. It also hasn't made it on to the Foreign Office's recently published list of countries that are exempt from advice against non-essential travel – crucial because if you travel somewhere that isn't on that list you will struggle to get insurance.

Sabrina Cambiaso, director of the Dominican Republic Tourist Board in the UK, says: "It is frustrating not to be on the lists, but we understand the UK government's priority on the safety of British travellers. However, since our borders reopened on July 1, we have introduced incredibly thorough health and safety protocols covering every aspect of a visitor's stay, from ensuring physical distancing guidelines of two metres are maintained, no self-service in hotel restaurants, to even sanitising reins and saddles on horseback rides." Details at godominicanrepublic.com/newsroom/coronavirus.

She adds: "We are hoping the UK advice will change soon." Flights from the UK are due to restart to the main resort, Punta Cana, with British Airways on September 1, and Tui has flights and packages on sale from October 3.

An utterly different Caribbean country that is also unhappy not to be on the UK government's travel corridors list is little St Vincent and the Grenadines (population just 110,000), as to date it has had just 35 cases and zero deaths related to Covid-19. Bizarrely, and confusingly, it is on the Foreign Office's list of destinations exempted from advice against non-essential travel, implying it's safe to visit. Yet for the idyllic getaway islands of Bequia and Mustique (both part of SVG), not being on the travel corridors list is already negatively affecting bookings. SVG reopened to international tourism on July 1.

So if you're hankering for a Caribbean break with tropical sunshine and bath-warm seas, where can you go or start planning to go to?

There are currently 19 Caribbean destinations on the UK's travel corridors list, and 13 on the Foreign Office's latest "safe to travel to" list.

Below, I've picked out those that are on both lists, have already reopened to tourism or have announced a firm date when they will, and to which you can fly direct from the UK.

Antigua

Borders reopened. On entry, proof required of negative Covid-19 test taken within seven days of flight. British Airways restarting August 1 from Gatwick; Virgin planning to restart from October, from Heathrow.

The Bahamas

Borders reopened. Evidence required of negative test no more than 10 days prior to travel. BA Heathrow-Nassau flights from September 4.

Barbados

Borders just reopened. Proof of negative test within 72 hours of travel required – or test possible on arrival. First flight from UK with BA, from Gatwick, on July 18; Virgin, from Heathrow, from August 1.

Sandy Lane, Barbados
Sandy Lane, Barbados

Grenada

Borders reopening to flights from medium-risk countries (which includes UK) from August 1. Proof required of negative PCR test taken less than seven days prior to travel; also test on arrival. BA flights from September 2, from Gatwick via St Lucia. Virgin planning to restart from October, from Heathrow via Antigua.

Jamaica

Borders reopened. Prior to flying, travel authorization required – visitjamaica.com/travelauthorization; testing on arrival also possible. Tourists required to stay in north coast Resilient Corridor zone. BA flights Gatwick-Kingston recommencing July 20. Virgin planning to restart to Montego Bay from October, from Heathrow.

St Lucia

Reopened to tourism. Visitors from outside Caribbean need proof of negative test carried out within seven days of travel. BA restarting July 25, from Gatwick.

Turks & Caicos

Providenciales airport reopening to tourism July 22. Proof required of negative test taken within five days of travel. BA recommencing  from September 3, from Gatwick via Antigua.

For more details on entry requirements, a good starting point is the Foreign Office's country page. Turn to specialist Caribbean tour operators such as Caribtours (caribtours.co.uk), Tropic Breeze (tropicbreeze.co.uk) and Just Grenada (justgrenada.co.uk) for more information on flights, entry protocols, hotel reopenings – and deals. Bear in mind the Caribbean's peak hurricane season is imminent (August-October), so a break later in the year or during the winter may make more sense.