BY THE WAY >>> PSA
BY THE WAY ( a PSA )
Many destinations have implemented new entry requirements and we have questions .
WORDS /
SARAH TRELEAVEN
How to Get Into Where You Want to Go
What entry requirements are destinations still enforcing , and how can you keep up ?
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS ARE CHANGING ALL THE TIME IN OUR CURRENT WORLD , AND TOURISM BOARDS ARE A TRAVEL ADVISOR ’ S BEST FRIEND WHEN IT COMES TO FINDING UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION . or a negative COVID-19 test in order for visitors to bypass the existing mandatory 10-day quarantine . And the Dominican Republic requires testing for residents of certain countries , and simply screens others ( including residents of the U . S .) for symptoms upon arrival .
U . S . residents should also be aware that testing is required for all air passengers returning to the United States ; they must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within three calendar days of departure . Alternatively , they can present proof of recovery from COVID-19 in the last 90 days . Airlines are being called upon to enforce these protocols , and are required to deny boarding to passengers who cannot provide sufficient documentation .
Here ’ s the background . As vaccination rates have increased and COVID-19 cases have declined , Americans are increasingly eager to return to international travel . Destinations are also keen to welcome back sorely missed tourism . But a deep desire to return to normal will , for a while , continue to be tempered by the pandemic ’ s lingering emphasis on health and safety . Some countries will be closed in the short and medium term to all nonessential travel , while others have reopened but with certain new protocols in place .
Will testing be required all over ? Testing requirements will vary from country to country , but many will indeed require testing either pre-departure or on arrival . Tourism boards and airlines are essential partners to help understand the requirements for each destination . Mexico , for example , does not require a COVID-19 test for air arrivals . Visitors to Jamaica must apply for authorization , including proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel . Hawaii has a pre-travel testing program that requires proof of vaccination
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What about proof of vaccination ? Details are still being worked out , but many countries will likely require proof of vaccination for travelers . A growing list of destinations — including many Caribbean and European countries — are demanding that visitors demonstrate they have been vaccinated against COVID-19 . Puerto Rico allows prospective visitors to supply either proof of vaccination or a negative COVID- 19 test prior to departure .
Are vaccine / health passports legit ? Vaccine or health passports , including proof of a negative test , have generated considerable controversy — with some states embracing vaccine certification , and other states banning such measures . There are some concerns about equitable access — especially given the inequitable distribution of vaccines across the globe — but the hope is that vaccination requirements will both encourage individuals to get vaccinated and help limit the spread of COVID-19 .
There ’ s presently much uncertainty about exactly how vaccine passports might work , but there is a likelihood that some form of proof of vaccination may be required of U . S . residents who hope to travel abroad — especially if they hope to skip local quarantine .
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