EDITOR, The Tribune.
We have been attempting to come to stay at our holiday property and visit Bahamian relatives for nearly two years without success. Every time we are able to travel your Government has restrictions which make it impossible to comply with your draconian entry rules.
Nearly two years ago just before we were to come to Nassau you closed your borders and flights were stopped from Canada. Then when things were reopened you introduced a Health Visa with impossible roadblocks to comply. We simply could not take PCR tests, wait two to three days for results, scan them to Nassau, wait for permission to travel and be on the ground in Nassau within five days especially with very few flights operating. Then you said double vaccinated visitors could enter without PCR tests so we thought that, being fully vaccinated, we would finally be able to make the trip even though the Visa was required. Now we are told that on top of the double vaccination certificate and requiring health tests to return to Canada we must have a rapid antigen test no older than three days to enter. These tests are hard to find because of massive shortages. There is no way, even if available, to get the result, the Visa and the flight and be there in three days!
Has there been any thought in the Tourism Ministry when drawing up these rules whether visitors can or are willing to go through with all the time consuming waits in lines for tests, all the paperwork and the high costs involved with the Visa? If we did not own a property and had relatives in Nassau we would not even think of coming to The Bahamas. Others without ties are booking to other countries where it is far easier to enter. Despite all the upbeat statements from your Tourism "experts" your economy, very unfortunately, will suffer until you end these unnecessary measures and return to the policies which worked for decades. For longtime visitors it is a very frustrating situation.
DAVID RUSSELL JOHNSON
Canada,
January 15, 2022.
Comments
realityisnotPC 2 years, 10 months ago
So sick and tired of this small group of Canadians and a couple of “travel agents” from upstate New York complaining and complaining. The Bahamas is not to blame for the requirements that your Canadian government impose upon you to return. Their entry requirements were the draconian ones…they wouldn’t let anyone who wasn’t Canadian enter Canada for the longest time, when we were open for business. I have personally travelled in and out of The Bahamas half a dozen times during COVID and never had any trouble getting the few requirements fulfilled. I have never had a health visa take more than 45 minutes to get approved. All you need is a tiny bit of common sense and organizational ability…in fact, my kids even organize their own paperwork using Verifly…have you heard of Verifly? And the US…they make you get a test within one day of flying…The Bahamas gives you 3 days, yet we are the draconian ones. One rule for them and one rule for us, I guess.
Alan1 2 years, 10 months ago
The letter writer has made several valid points. Criticising people who want to come to our country and who have had confidence enough in us to purchase a property should be listened to with their concerns. In Canada where they are living all health services are government operated. There are no private clinics where they may be able to go and quickly get a test and a result. In Canada it was very difficult to get the required PCR tests,especially with long lines in cities, wait two days for the result and scan it to Nassau and get permission for the Visa, get one of the very few flights operating and be on the ground in Nasssu in five days. I have spoken to several Canadians who could not travel to us. Two families went to southern Florida because,as working couples, they did not have the time to spend to do all the waiting and measures required. Going to Florida was much easier. A Canadian travel agent told me that people just cannot be bothered with all the rules and he is booking them to easier destinations. Over the years it was very easy to enter our country. They showed passports at our airport, filled in the entry cards and were admitted. We also relied on cruise passengers. Several people have told me they are not interested anymore being on a ship with many other people due to the virus. The situation is not helped by both Canadian and American governments wanting tests to get back into those countries. Some people may have been fortunate in getting here with fewer problems but the concerns of the letter writer are widespread. This problem has been exacerbated by all the uncertainties with the virus and the short time periods the Government demands from the test date to arrival. Let us hope the situation improves soon.
realityisnotPC 2 years, 10 months ago
Then their beef should be with their “first world” government and not with our little country that just wants to have some common sense protections in place. We are a tiny developing nation and can get antigen and PCR tests for travel very easily. Shame on the Canadian government that we can do things so much better here. The writers of these letters need to focus their anger at the shortcomings of their own country. Blaming us for having a few requirements because their country can’t get its act together is like a passenger being angry at at airline for not letting him on the plane after he lost his boarding pass…presenting your boarding pass is a simple requirement, but you were so inept that you lost it before you got to the gate!
Bobsyeruncle 2 years, 10 months ago
Exactly!! I personally have been in & out of The Bahamas several times in the past year, and a couple of those have been to places much further away than Canada. I've always found the Bahamas entry requirements to go extremely smoothly, even if at first I was put off as they did seem too restrictive.
The issue is on the letter writers end and not on The Bahamas end.
Dawes 2 years, 10 months ago
Why do we keep seeing these letters. If someone in Canada wants to come here take a test up to 3 days before and come, whether you are vaccinated or not, and you can be on the beach or at the bar within an hour of landing. If my family wants to go to Canada only those vaccinated can do that after all the necessary paperwork. Those not vaccinated (any child under 11 for sure over here) would have to quarantine for 10 days. So stop your moaning, you have it a lot easier coming this way then we do.
Alan1 2 years, 10 months ago
The point that the letter writer was making is that there is too short a period of time from taking the test to arrival in Nassau. The Canadians must go to a government run health facility to get a test. There are usually long lines ,especially in the large cities, to get a test if they are even available. There are massive shortages of rapid antigen tests both in Canada and the U.S.A. Then they must wait at least a day for the result and go back for it if it is not sent online. Then they must apply for the Health Visa whose time in coming back varies. They must get a flight, if operating, to get to Nassau within three days. It becomes physically impossible for many people. If it was just a double vaccination certificate required it would be easier. But now with the additional 3 day old rapid antigen test it makes it difficult. The additional test by the Canadian Government to return to Canada can be taken in Nassau before they return. But let us face the facts- the more tests and paperwork required adds a lot of money onto a trip and time consuming for working people seriously depresses tourism bookings. If some of those making instant messages against our visitors tried to complete all the requirements they would see the problems. We lose out in the end with fewer tourists and less needed revenue. Visitors are now going to where it is easier to entry without all the hassles.
Bobsyeruncle 2 years, 10 months ago
As others have mentioned, the issue is with Canada, not The Bahamas. Visitors from other countries (including Europe & Asia), face the same entry requirements but they manage to make it okay.
newcitizen 2 years, 10 months ago
It is far more difficult to get into Canada now than the Bahamas. Enough with this sh*t. Why does the tribune insist on publishing these asinine letters from people who are either to dumb to fill out a form, or are so out of touch that filling out a form is just overwhelming to them.
To get into the Bahamas for a vaccinated person - antigen test, fill out travel visa, get it back in an hour
To get into Canada for a vaccinated person - take a PCR within 3 days - download the ArriveCan app, upload test, fill out a quarantine and isolation plan, wait a day for approval, take another test at the airport in Canada when you arrive - isolate until you have the results
Also, somehow it's the Bahamas fault that the Canadian government has sh*t the bed when it comes to testing so that poor Davey baby can't get his tests uploaded on time. But don't let that stop him from blaming the Bahamas for his own countries handling of the pandemic.
Honestly, these entitled letters need to be tossed in the trash. If this is such a huge problem for people that don't understand that the whole entire world is dealing with covid, then they should stay home. We don't need any extra idiots in this country, we have enough.
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