St Maarten is updating its travel protocols on March 1, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The centerpiece of the update will see testing waived for all fully vaccinated travelers. 

St Maarten will also waive pre-testing for anyone who has recovered from Covid in the last nine months. 

Unvaccinated travelers must, however, still provide a PCR test taken within 48 hours before arrival or an antigen test taken within 24 hours before arrival. 

All travelers will still have to fill out a health pre-authorization form within 72 hours before arrival (you can find the form here). 

The destination said it was also planning to begin a “phased transition” to move from pandemic protocols to “endemic” strategies. 

“This is not a hastily made move nor one to be confused with complacency about the situation. As we take steps towards normalcy, we will do so in a safe and responsible manner. With case numbers remaining low, our protocols have made St. Maarten one of the safest places to visit today,” said Omar Ottley, Minister of Public Health, Social Development and Labor. “Declaring COVID-19 an endemic on our island is pivotal, and we will work for months to come to pioneer policies that prioritize everyone’s health and simultaneously allow for easy yet safe travel to and within St. Maarten. We are confident that introducing these new protocols will help us smoothly transition back to normalcy and maintenance while welcoming an increasing number of valued visitors to our Friendly Island.” 

St Maarten said it received nearly 30,000 visitors in January 2022, a nearly 39 percent increase over the same period in 2019, before the onset of the pandemic. 

“We remain as united as ever in our efforts to further reposition St. Maarten as a leading destination and to restore our tourism prestige by adapting our processes to meet consumers’ expectations and provide an easy travel experience to our beloved island,” said Roger Lawrence, St Maarten’s Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transport & Telecommunication. “As we transition to normalcy, we will continue to promote safety measures to ensure a safe and fun environment for our residents and visitors alike throughout the transition period.”

For more, visit St Maarten.