The Caribbean’s most glamorous destination is reopening for tourism, Caribbean Journal has learned.
The French Caribbean island of St Barth is reopening for travel and tourism on June 22, according to Bruno Magras, president of the island’s territorial council.
“Whether you are visiting an island friend or local resident, returning to spend time in your vacation home or coming back to spend some vacation time on the island, St Barth is pleased to welcome you back,” Magras said.
Magras said life on the island has “returned to normal.”
“Island beaches are open without restriction, restaurants and boutiques are operating as usual, houses of worship are open and holding services and nautical services as well as the other services to which you are accustomed are being provided as usual,” he said.
That’s due to early, aggressive action to lock down the island in the early days of the pandemic’s spread, and now it means St Barth is open for business.
The island has implemented new COVID-19 protocols for incoming travelers, however.
Every visitor to the island will be asked to provide a COVID-negative RT-PCR test performed within three days prior to the visitor’s departure.
If it’s not possible to arrange a test prior to departure, visitors will be required to be tested for COVID-19 within 24 hours of arrival.
Until test results are known, visitors will be required to observe “strict quarantine” in their villa or hotel room “during which time interaction is limited to only those traveling in your party.”
Test results will take less than 24 hours to be released, Magras said. For those staying on the island for more than seven days, a second RT-PCR test will be required on Day 7. (Children under the age of 10 do not require a test).
The island’s villas and resorts are beginning to reopen, most notably the Hotel Le Toiny, the first hotel on the island to announce its reopening, along with the popular Les Ilets de la Plage beachfront resort in St Jean.
Of course, leading villa companies like WIMCO and St Barth Properties are also reopening their properties for travelers.
And the best ways to get there from the United States remains flying luxury carrier Tradewind Aviation via San Juan.
— CJ