Caribbean Islands Reopen to Visitors

As an indication the COVID-19 pandemic is ending in the Caribbean, the island of Barbados recently removed all testing requirements for vaccinated travelers.

According to Barbados Prime Minister Mia Motley, removing the entry test requirement would “have positive implications for the country’s tourism experience,” reported the Caribbean Journal Staff on May 25, 2022.

However, unvaccinated travelers will be tested at the airport unless they have documented evidence of having had Covid within 90 days.

If they test negative, they can freely visit the island. If positive, they will need to quarantine themselves.

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Barbados, which experienced an almost 90% decline in tourism since 2019.

To help Barbados, the IMF augmented its Extended Fund Facility program by about $90 million, or about 2% of GDP, to help finance the emerging fiscal deficit as a result of plummeting revenues from the tourism-related activity and increasing COVID-related expenditures.

When planning to visit Barbados, the U.S. CDC suggests several vaccinations in addition to COVID-19.

And if traveling from a country with a risk of yellow fever virus transmission, more visitors are required to show immunization proof. 

But, this requirement excludes Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago unless an outbreak is occurring.

For Americans, the U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown is located at Wildey Business Park, St. Michael BB 14006, Barbados, W.I.

Pre-departure vaccine reviews are offered at certified travel vaccine clinics and pharmacies in the USA.