EDITOR, The Tribune.
How disappointing to read in your news this morning that restrictive measures will still be in place to enter The Bahamas as of November.
Despite all the fanfare with yesterday’s announcement by your Tourism Minister visitors will still have difficult barriers and decisions to make if they want to travel to Nassau.
Several couples who are friends of my wife and myself have been coming to Nassau for many years for a holiday before Christmas. My parents have been longtime winter residents. Everyone is from various parts of Canada.
I do not believe that your Tourism Ministry officials have any idea of the practical problems we face in completing the entry requirements.
Your Minister and his staff yesterday gave a flowery account of the beauty and pristine beaches in your country.
We know all of this or we would not be coming year after year.
However, you must face the fact that there are too many problems and unknown factors facing prospective visitors that they are essentially forced to look elsewhere where they feel more welcome.
You ask us to have a COVID-19 test no older than seven days from an approved clinic – a difficult task. Yet your Ministry fails to tell us where in Canada are these clinics located.
The provincial governments are the sole authority for health care. Giving such tests to healthy persons is either not allowed or in a low priority for appointments.
So how can we book an air ticket on the few flights operating if we do not know when we can get a test appointment? We must scan it to Nassau for the new “Health Visa” . We have no idea how long that will take. Reports are that they are late arriving. How then do we make accommodation bookings?
We now face the new hurdle of having to pay for the Visa. We are told the cost depends on the length of stay. How will that work for people such as my parents who are winter residents? What are the exact costs?
With all the time consuming requirements most Canadians and others will look to other more visitor friendly destinations.
Our travel agent this morning has advised us to look elsewhere as other Caribbean countries are either testing visitors on arrival or do not require tests.
She stated that The Bahamas needs a reality check immediately. This is based on the belief that people will not travel if they are unwell.
Unfortunately at this moment our family are still not certain how to proceed. We want to be in The Bahamas, but we feel we are being turned away by unrealistic demands. This will surely severely damage your economy. We hope further easing of restrictions will be forthcoming.
ROBERT M WILSON
Canada,
October 3, 2020.
Comments
DrDon 4 years, 2 months ago
Robert
It's not as daunting as it seems. Any Canadian hospital testing facility can give you the test. I had mine done at Oakville Trafalgar. Results come back in a couple of days. No cost!
I have also used Walgreens for a test, thou they screwed up the actual test date. but a call to the Bahamas Dept of Health and I got it straightened away. The system works really well. And if it protects Bahamians, it will have been worth it.
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 2 months ago
Good stuff Robert. You and your parents stay right where you are. What is wrong with you? Lol. A vacation during a deadly pandemic? A vacation to a country where the virus is running rampant?
You aint exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer huh?
Sheesh...
proudloudandfnm 4 years, 2 months ago
Wanna see restrictions? Try travelling to Canada right now. And yes, you will pay to quarantine for two weeks on arrival. And they do mean quarantine, they will check on you every day, and if you don't answer the phone they will be knocking on your door within minutes. And you will be tested on arrival, during quarantine and after.
So Robert. Hush, just hush...
canuck 4 years, 2 months ago
The health and well being of the Bahamian people is far more important than a tourist's vacation. Everyone, including Canadians, Americans, and Bahamians should stay home this year and let the world recover its health. There will be lots of time for vacations in the years to come.
I am sure the efficient Bahamian government and the medical community are doing everything in their power to rein in the pandemic which seems to be an increasing challenge in your country and mine. Most Bahamians like Canadians heed the recommendations of their experts; social distancing, wearing a mask properly, washing their hands, and minimizing contact with anyone outside their immediate household. All these efforts will be rewarded.
The challenge for the Bahamas is their dependence on tourism for the well-being of their economy but I am sure the government will find the resources to look after the needs of its citizens without revenues from this source.
Stay strong and keep up the good fight.
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