Jamaica Re-Opens Next Week, Dominican Republic July 1; Delta Launches Unique Global Cleanliness Division

Jamaica will officially open for tourists tomorrow, June 15. The government of Canada has agreed to study the idea of a passenger train that would run from Calgary’s airport to Banff via downtown Calgary. I also look at re-openings for both the Dominican Republic, New York City and Walt DIsney World hotels in today’s Future of Travel blog.

JAMAICA RE-OPENS TOMORROW

Jamaica has announced it will reopen its borders for international travellers tomorrow, June 15.

Officials say an extensive set of safety protocols have been announced, including health screening before entry and upon entry, which will be implemented to manage risks to workers, communities and travellers. From planning the trip to enjoying the destination, the protocols address all stages of the visitor’s journey, incorporating the lifecycle of prevention, detection and response.

Safety is paramount to a resilient and sustainable tourism sector. As the nation’s largest economic engine, Jamaica’s tourist industry employs 130,000 workers, and impacts an additional 120,000 jobs from other industries (water, agriculture, power, among others), fuelling more than one third of the country’s economy. 

“Tourism is the lifeblood of our local economy, and with the help of international experts and a dedicated task force, we have developed protocols that allow us to safely reopen our borders,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “We are confident that as we restart our economy, Jamaicans will work together to ensure a safe, secure and seamless experience for our tourism workers, their families, and visitors, while preserving the authentic experiences travellers seek when they visit our shores.”

The Jamaican government worked closely with international partners to develop the public health-focused tourism protocols, which were designed based on benchmarks globally to include nearly 20 markets in the Caribbean, and globally, as well as global health agencies. Protocol development also included extensive consultation with local government agencies including Ministries of Health & Wellness, National Security and Foreign Affairs as well as private sector, unions, and international partners within and beyond the tourism industry including the World Travel & Tourism Council, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, The World Bank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and development finance banks.

Through June 14, Jamaicans returning to the island will undergo temperature checks and a screening with public health officials. They will need to quarantine at home for 14 days and will be monitored with phone or wristband geofencing. After June 15, all visitors will be screened via thermal temperature checks and symptom observation. If a temperature is elevated, the visitor will be subject to additional screening, including testing, if needed. Any visitor who exhibits symptoms or is ill will be subject to quarantine. 

I’ve been to Jamaica I think four times now and have explored pretty much everything except Kingston and the far southeast corner of the island. I quite enjoy Negril, Montego Bay and Ocho Rios, but I’m most fond of the lesser-known areas, such as the South Coast near Treasure Beach and the area between Port Antonio and Boston Bay, where you’ll find some of the islands best, and least crowded, beaches. Two faves are Boston Beach and tiny but spectacular Frenchman’s Cove Beach.

CALGARY TO BANFF TRAIN: HUGE ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS

A federal agency is studying the idea of a passenger train line that would connect Calgary’s airport with the city’s downtown and then run all the way to Banff.

The study was announced on Tuesday by the Canada Infrastructure Bank, a federal crown corporation, and the Alberta government.

This makes so much sense on so many levels.

Banff and Lake Louise have had major problems with overcrowding the past few years, with hordes of cars pouring into the valley and clogging local roads. It’s dangerous, and it’s also terrible for the environment.

But these are two of the most treasured tourist attractions in Canada, and folks aren’t going to stop visiting. Nor do most restaurants, hotels and other tourist-related businesses want them to.

“Certainly arriving by train in Banff would be a fantastic experience,” said Banff Mayor Karen Sorensen. “It’s what Banff was built on, in terms of visitors coming by rail.”

Cities and regions around the world (hello, Los Angeles) have woken up to the fact that rail is a far better mode of transportation for the environment than having folks in cars. Linking Calgary’s airport to Banff via downtown Calgary is a wonderful idea.

The CBC reports the 130-kilometer line “could see up to eight departures per day from the airport to Banff, with stops in Cochrane, Morley and Canmore, and an express service from the Calgary International Airport to downtown Calgary every 20 minutes.

Roughly four million people visit Banff National Park each year, and 29,000 vehicles pass through the park gates on Highway 1 each day in the summer — 5,000 more than the park’s capacity, Sorensen said in the CBC story.

If the train line is built, it would be a public-private partnership.

“Anything that could help us shrink the number of vehicles on the road would help us sustain the Banff National Park experience,” Sorensen said.

Here’s a 2014 blog post of mine about visiting Banff in winter.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC RE-OPENING JULY 1

My friends at TravelPulse in the U.S. report that the Dominican Republic, a perennial fave for sun-seeking Canadians, will re-open for tourism business on Canada Day.

In a COVID-19 preparedness and response webinar on Tuesday, the country’s health and tourism experts expressed confidence that the Caribbean destination is on pace to safely open its borders to international visitors in three weeks’ time.

However, not all hotels will reopen their doors on July 1, officials reiterated. Therefore, travelers should confirm with their individual property before making plans to visit.

While the Dominican Republic has been among the hardest-hit countries in the Caribbean during the COVID-19 crisis, reporting more than 20,000 confirmed cases and over 500 deaths as of Tuesday afternoon, the country has been working hard to build up its response and slow the spread, reporting more than 12,000 recoveries in the same time frame.

Here’s a story of mine about the Caribbean that includes some information about the DR.

DELTA LAUNCHES UNIQUE GLOBAL CLEANLINESS DIVISION

To heck with great movies and even free drinks; the best thing an airline can offer customers these days is a clean, safe environment in the air.

Delta is establishing the airline’s first Global Cleanliness division – a new department within the Customer Experience organization dedicated to innovating and evolving our already-high cleanliness standards.

In the three months since the global pandemic dramatically impacted the world, teams across Delta quickly and effectively established a new standard of cleanliness for Delta, and our industry. This latest move is a unique way for the global carrier to continue bringing laser focus to cleanliness efforts as part of the layers of protection we are offering customers.

The cleanliness transformation that customers experience today it is the foundation upon which Delta’s future travel experience is being built for our customers to enjoy. Leading the organization is Mike Medeiros, Vice President – Global Cleanliness.

 “Mike has been a steadfast leader in our transformation and cleanliness focus to date, effectively working across teams to coordinate our massive efforts at scale,” said Bill Lentsch, Chief Customer Experience Officer. “This team will bring the same focus and rigor to cleanliness that we’re known for in transforming customer expectations for on-time, completion and baggage performance – so that customers can feel confident when choosing to fly with us.”

 The Global Cleanliness organization will further develop and execute Delta’s cleanliness standards, methods and quality management to ensure a consistently safe and sanitized experience across our facilities and aircraft for employees and customers, alike.

CANADIANS STILL WANT TO TRAVEL

In a survey of 2,391 respondents from Canada, the U.S., the UK and Australia – undertaken by the consumer research and opinion polling firm, STR – 60% of consumers stated that they still intend to travel either the same amount or more in the next 12 months, in comparison to the past 12 months.

Compared with the other jurisdictions, Canadians seemed to be a little less spooked by the impact of COVID-19 on flying, reporting only an 11% decline in desire to travel, compared with 16% among Australians, 17% for Britons and 19% for Americans.

WALT DISNEY WORLD HOTEL RE-OPENINGS

Spectrum News 13 in Orlando reports that Disney World will begin reopening some of its resort hotels this month, following a March closure because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and select Disney Vacation Club properties, including Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas – Kidani Village, Disney’s Beach Club Villas and Disney’s BoardWalk Villas will reopen to guests on June 22.

Over the weekend, Disney shared an update about the hotels, outlining the new requirements that will be put in place for guests.

Guests, ages 2 and older, will be required to wear masks in all public areas at any Disney Resort Hotel. The only exceptions will be while they are swimming or dining. Day guests, those not staying at the hotel overnight, will need a confirmed dining reservation. 

Hotel guests may be subjected to additional screenings and Disney is encouraging them to check their temperatures before they arrive.

Disney is recommending that guests use online check-in to help with physical distancing. All guests will be automatically checked out of their rooms to reduce the need to visit the front desk.

Inside their rooms, guests will find extra linens and towels, double-cased pillows and individually-wrapped glassware. Housekeeping will clean guests’ rooms every other day during their stay. The light cleaning service will include replenishing towels and amenities, removing trash and used towels, and cleaning vanity and counter surfaces.

WHEN WILL NEW YORK CITY RE-OPEN?

New York City, one of the world’s most visited and loved urban centres, was hit extremely hard by the coronavirus. But The Big Apple has entered phase one of its re-opening, and phase two should start by next week.

Tourists? That’s likely a few weeks off, but there’s some conjecture that the city that houses Lady Liberty might be welcoming some tourists by the Fourth of July.

AIRLINE LOSSES FOR 2020: MAYBE $100 BILLION

The COVID-19 pandemic could cause a loss of $100 billion for the world’s airline industry, according to a report from the International Air Transport Association. But better times are ahead. The IATA expects airline passenger traffic to rise 55% in 2021 compared to this year.

“Financially, 2020 will go down as the worst year in the history of aviation,” said ITA director-general Alexandre de Juniac.