Especially from the ailing tourism sector, there is considerable pressure to open quickly
WILLEMSTAD – A maximum of ten thousand people will be allowed to enter Curaçao from low-risk countries starting July 1. Such as from the Netherlands and other Western European countries to which quarantine no longer applies.
That is the government’s aim. Especially from the ailing tourism sector, there is considerable pressure to open quickly.
“If the borders don’t open, a majority of hotels say they’ll be mothballing for the next few months, until the next peak season kicks in at the end of this year. What mass redundancy would mean in the sector,” says Minister Steven Martina of Economic Affairs. “We would like to prevent that.”
Mandatory test
The maximum of ten thousand people, including Curaçaoans who want to return to the island, must do a test before departure. The traveler must also report complaints that may indicate corona infection by filling out form and remain available to the authorities on the island.
Curaçao will also open the border with the BES islands from June 12. When to travel to Sint Maarten and Aruba depends on these countries and whether they will open their borders with the United States, according to the government. The U.S. is still a risk country and if these two islands open their borders for tourists from this country, Curaçao will stop travel to and from these two islands.
May follow tourists per app
“We would like the borders to be opened, but this must be done as safely as possible. The health of the population is a priority here,” emphasizes Paul Pennicook, director of the Curaçao Tourist Board (CTB).
Various protocols have been drawn up for this, for example to register how tourists move around the island, he says. For example, an app can register the movements of the tourist and who they have been in contact with. New guidelines for restaurants will also be introduced. Tourists are likely to be required to make reservations. In order to be able to do contact research afterwards, if necessary.
“All of these plans are now under investigation and have yet to be worked out,” Pennicook explains. There is also talk of making face masks mandatory on busy occasions.
