Travel Health Visa Ends on Sunday

NASSAU, BAHAMAS – The travel health visa is set to be a thing of the past. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism Chester Cooper announcing in parliament the travel visa will be eradicated on Sunday, but the COVID-19 testing requirement will remain in place.

Jasmin brown reports.

The decision to eliminate the travel health visa comes just over six months after the Davis administration eliminated the visas for Bahamians and residents.

Cooper says with summer travel just days away, now is the time to get rid of travel impediments and keep up with other destinations.

On Tuesday, Cooper said Cabinet was set to consider the elimination of COVID-19 testing ahead of travel to the bahamas.

However, during his contribution to the 2022-2023 budget debate, the Deputy Prime Minister says the requirement remains in place, for now.

Cooper went on to insist the goal is to encourage more flights in key markets to get more visitors to The Bahamas safely, quickly, and affordably while also protecting public health.

He says that’s particulary important, as visitor arrivals have increased by nearly 1000 percent.

During the first four months of the year Cooper says visitor arrivals topped 1.9 million.