The Bahamas says it will officially open for visitors July 1. Meanwhile, Italy on Monday opened its doors for tourism. I also have updates on re-openings for Hawaii and Portugal, as well as news about renting an RV in Canada for a great road trip and a US poll that suggests folks are getting ready to travel more. All in today’s Future of Travel blog.
BAHAMAS MAKES IT OFFICIAL: RE-OPENING IS JULY 1
The waters around Long Island in The Bahamas have to be seen to be believed. JIM BYERS PHOTO
The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, along with the Tourism Readiness and Recovery Committee, a group comprised of public and private sector partners, announced today a collaborative plan for re-opening the country’s borders and tourism sector, as well as the resumption of international commercial travel starting July 1. A press conference provided details of the “Tourism Readiness and Recovery Plan” to be used as an approved, comprehensive guide of health and safety protocol to be followed consistently across the country.
From procedures pertaining to entering and departing The Bahamas via airports and seaports, to a Clean & Pristine certification program implemented across hotels, restaurants and other consumer-facing tourism entities and touchpoints, the plan outlines extensive health and safety protocols that will be enforced throughout The Bahamas to mitigate risks for all visitors and residents alike.
“Our top priority has and will always be our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our residents and visitors” said Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation Director General Joy Jibrilu. “We must remember that we are living in a new normal in the wake of COVID-19 and a lot is going to change across the tourism sector. We are putting an even greater emphasis on making sure The Bahamas is safe and clean for everyone, and look forward to once again providing travelers with the tropical experience our islands are known for.”
I’ve been a couple times and thoroughly enjoyed myself. Nassau and Paradise Island are great for families, but I found myself attracted more to Eleuthera and Long Island. Here’s a link to a Bahamas blog I posted in the fall of 2018.
LA DOLCE VITA (SLOWLY) RETURNS
The island of Ponza, Italy isn’t far from Rome. It’s a delightful spot that makes me think, “This is maybe what Capri was like before it became discovered.”
Italy holds a special place in my heart. I met my wife there. Oddly enough, it’s where my Mom and Dad are pretty sure I was conceived. Yeah, that’s maybe too much information, but that’s what they’ve always told me.
My wife, Barbara, and I have been back a couple times since we first met on a train heading from Rome to Florence. We visited Italy for our 25th wedding anniversary trip, spending time in the Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, Naples and Capri. And we went back again a few years ago for a great trip around Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany. I was in Torino/Turin for a month for the 2006 Winter Olympics, covering the Games for the Toronto Star. I’ve also taken trips to the marvellous island of Ponza with my daughter, visited a friend for several days on Sardinia, and visited Sicily for a day during a Mediterranean cruise eight or nine years ago.
I love the ebullience of the Italian people. And, of course, there’s the food, the wine and the marvellous scenery. So, it was wonderful to wake up this morning and see photos of tourists checking out the Colosseum in Rome. Yes, the tour guide was wearing a face mask, but it was still inspiring to see real visitors in a historic part of the world, just like the good old days of early 2020, when COVID-19 was a mere blip on the radar and physical distancing meant sitting on opposite ends of the couch when you sat down to watch Saturday Night Live.
Starting Wednesday, according to USA Today, Italy will allow travellers from the 25 other members of the Schengen visa-free travel area that covers much of Europe to come to Italy with no restrictions. We North Americans will have to wait a little longer. But at least things are moving in the right direction for now, and that’s a big positive for anyone who loves travel.
It was also great to see photos of people milling about in Key West and in other parts of the Florida Keys. And also in the U.S. Virgin Islands, which opened on Monday as well.
HAWAII TAKES FIRST OPENING STEPS
The governor of Hawaii says that, as of June 16, visitors going between Hawaiian islands will no longer have to undergo a 14-day quarantine. Mandatory ‘temperature screening’ and a new form will be introduced for the out-of-state visitors upon their arrival to Hawaii, according to eturbonews.com, but there doesn’t appear to be any firm date for when “outside” visitors will be allowed.
WHAT ABOUT PORTUGAL?
A street tram in Lisbon.
Portugal is another tremendous European destination and one that’s wildly popular with British travellers. My wife and I and two other couples shared a three-bedroom place in the village of Burgau a few years ago and had a smashing time; taking long hikes along the cliffs, wandering the village and enjoying fabulous, fresh seafood at casual, inexpensive restaurants. The tourism minister has been saying that tourists are welcome, but it’s not clear when the borders will be officially opened. The stories I’ve read suggest July is the most likely time, so as to take advantage of the summer season.
I loved our stay in Burgau, but I’m also a big fan of Lisbon (the walk up to Castle Sao Jorge through the Alfama district is one of my favourite urban walks anywhere in the world) and the Azores, which to me feel like a mixture of Portugal, Hawaii and Scotland/Ireland, with deep green grass, black rock coastlines and Mediterranean red roofs.
DISCOVER CANADA WITH TRANSAT AND CANADREAM RV’S
Along the Cowboy Trail in Alberta. PHOTO COURTESY TRAVEL ALBERTA
Transat Distribution Canada (TDC), Canada’s largest full-service travel agency network, is happy to announce that is has recently partnered with one of the largest recreational vehicles (RV) rental and sales companies in Canada, CanaDream. With pick up locations from seven gateways in Canada, and a fleet of more than 1300 luxury vehicles, CanaDream offers the perfect option for couples and families of all ages looking to get away this year.
“Transat Distribution Canada is always proactively looking for suppliers that will enhance what our members have to offer their customer”, says Louise Fecteau, TDC General Manager. “The recent feedback we’ve received from them indicates that Canadians are eager to travel, which is why we wanted to expand our usual offering of overseas destinations with a different proposal. That is why we feel now is an ideal time to see Canada. We are fortunate to partner with CanaDream at this time and offer this vacation option to our clients. Because we all want to support local business and communities to rebound, and with gas prices so low, now is a great time to experience Canada. And with this unique RV offer, travellers from across the country will be able to enjoy the comfort of their own “home away from home” on wheels”.
CanaDream RV guest and sales locations can be found in cities offering an incredible variety of natural experiences and include Calgary and Edmonton (Alberta), Vancouver (British Columbia), Whitehorse (Yukon), Toronto (Ontario), Montreal (Quebec) and Halifax (Nova Scotia). CanaDream is part of the Apollo Tourism & Leisure Group from Australia and is present in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
I recently wrote a story for AARP magazine on the in’s and outs of renting an RV.
US SUMMER LOOKING BETTER
A study by Longwoods International on April 1 found that a full 67% of Americans said the COVID-19 pandemic would “greatly” impact their travel plans for the year. That has dropped significantly. The latest poll by Longwoods, conducted May 27, finds only 47% of Americans feel that way.
The data shows slow but steady progress in a return to normalcy for future travel in the U.S.,” said Amir Eylon, President and CEO of Longwoods International. “But we still have a long way to go for the American tourism industry to regain its footing both in sales and employment.”
Forty percent of American travellers support opening their communities to visitors, up from 31% two weeks ago, and 43% would feel safe traveling outside their communities, up from 35% in that same time period. About a third of those surveyed would feel safe dining in local restaurants and shopping at local stores.
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