St Maarten is making it easier for vaccinated travelers to visit the island.
Beginning Aug. 1, the destination’s Electronic Health Authorization Service, an online registration portal, will give immediate pre-approval for vaccinated travelers once they completely fill out their forms.
St Maarten is not changing its travel requirements, but tourism officials say the approval will help avoid many cancellations.
St Maarten will still check travelers’ documents at the airport.
St Maarten Health Minister Omar Ottley says the plan is to transition the EHAS system to “a more effective system that fosters safety without negatively affecting our visitor numbers.”
By Oct. 15, 2022, the plan is for automated approval to be accessible to all visitors, regardless of vaccination status.
That said, the destination continues to see strong visitor traffic.
The high season last year saw 120 percent of St Maarten’s 2019 arrival numbers, according to the government.