Barbados’ new protocols for vaccinated travellers start May 8; Roach departs BTMI

BRIDGETOWN — Petra Roach is moving on from the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) to take up a new position at the Grenada Tourist Board.

Roach has served as interim CEO of BTMI since November 2020. She joined BTMI in 2002, back when it was the Barbados Tourism Authority, as VP on the UK team. She first served as interim CEO in 2014 during the organization’s transition to the BTMI. In 2015 she was named Director for the U.S. and four years later took on the role of Global Head of Markets.

“On behalf of the Board, management and staff we say a sincere thank you to Petra

Roach for her years of service and leadership,” said BTMI Chairman Roseanne Myers, in a statement from the BTMI board. “She has been a tremendous asset to Barbados for two decades and her contribution to the growth and development of tourism sector has been outstanding.”

Roach thanked the BTMI, adding: “I wish brand Barbados well because it’s been a great experience that has helped me hone my skills.”

BTMI’s current UK Director, Cheryl Carter, will act as Head of Global Markets, and he BTMI board is expediting its recruitment of a CEO. The tourism board has a new commercially-focused marketing mandate.

NEW ENTRY PROTOCOLS EFFECTIVE MAY 8

In other news the government of Barbados has updated its travel protocols, with the Ministry of Health and Wellness approving the COVID-19 AstraZeneca, Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson & Johnson vaccinations for entry into Barbados and effective May 8, 2021.

Travellers who are considered to be fully vaccinated are required to:

Provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result 3 days prior to travel
Provide a vaccination certificate on arrival to Barbados
Have a standard or rapid COVID-19 PCR test done at the airport or their approved accommodation
Use specially designated transportation providers for their transport to their approved accommodation and while awaiting their COVID-19 PCR test result
Stay at their approved accommodation where they are free to move around in accordance with the guidelines of that property
All fully vaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine for 1 to 2 days.

Any traveller who has not been fully vaccinated, not vaccinated at all, does not have any evidence of vaccination or has travelled from or transited through a country where the prevalence of certain variants of COVID-19 are deemed of particular concern to Barbados, are required to:

Provide a negative COVID-19 PCR test on arrival 3 days prior to travel
Use specifically designated transportation providers for their transport from the airport to approved accommodation
Stay within their rooms/suites before receiving a 2nd negative COVID-19 PCR test
Travellers are not allowed to leave their rooms/suites
Take their 2nd test 5 days after their arrival to Barbados

All unvaccinated travellers will be required to quarantine for approximately 5 to 7 days.

Children under 18 who are travelling with fully vaccinated guardians will be allowed to adhere to the fully vaccinated traveller guidelines.

Also, anyone travelling within a group as a vaccinated traveller with other unvaccinated travellers, will be subject to unvaccinated traveller guidelines if they choose not to be separated.

All unaccompanied minors under the age of 18 must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 PCR test result taken no more than 3 days prior to arrival. Vaccinated unaccompanied minors will follow the guidelines for all vaccinated travellers, whereas, unvaccinated unaccompanied minors will follow the protocol of unvaccinated travellers.

The latest updates can be found at barbadostravelprotocols.com.