Worrell: Unfinished business in COVID-19 travel protocols

While some international airlines have already resumed flights to Barbados, former Central Bank Governor Dr DeLisle Worrell has questioned whether the tourism sector has fully addressed the issues created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He made the comments even as he welcomed next month’s planned return of one of the island’s long-time airline partners, British Airways, and suggested a need for global implementation of agreed travel practices in a COVID-19 environment.

Questioning the protocols that local authorities have in place for testing and quarantine of travellers, Worrell pointed out that all the surveys conducted by industry specialists around the world indicate there is a universal fear of flying at this time.

“That fear can only be overcome when there are widely observed international protocols in place to ensure that no-one who is carrying COVID-19 is able to board an aircraft. Developing such protocols is not impossible; after all, we have protocols to ensure that no-one can board an airplane with a tube of toothpaste or a bottle of water. But we will not have such protocols in place by October,” he said.

Worrell added: “In order to avoid testing on arrival, and the possibility of a vacation ruined by quarantine, the prudent visitor may seek to be tested before flying. But how long before? That depends on the stipulations of the Barbados authorities and the turnaround time for results by UK testing facilities. What evidence must be produced on the traveller’s COVID status, and in what form? What can passengers expect in terms of screening, meals, drinks, entertainment, baggage handling, child care, etc.? These questions arise with respect to the airports of departure and arrival, both outbound and inbound. There is uniformity worldwide in security screening; but we do not know of any international agreements on screening for COVID-19 that are in universal use.”

Commenting on British Airways resuming flights to the island, the former Central Bank head noted that the UK market is the bedrock of Barbados’ tourism, accounting for the largest percentage of arrivals each year.

“A high proportion of visitors from the UK are our friends and people who know our island well enough to regard it as home away from home. They look forward to their annual holiday with us, and they will be relieved to hear that it may soon become possible to travel,” he noted.

However, he pointed to a dilemma which he said some British travellers faced. He said they could not be sure that guidelines currently in place would not change before or during the period of their travel, either in the UK or in Barbados.

“The recent experiences of UK travellers to European and Caribbean countries would have deterred many: mandatory quarantines were re-imposed on some countries when tourists were already abroad, prompting a mad scramble of holidaymakers trying to return before the deadline,” Worrell said.

He also queried what experiences visitors will have in Barbados given that social distancing has put a damper on some social activities, while numerous attractions, shops and restaurants have closed their doors.

Although acknowledging that the Government was not responsible for the protocols governing international travel, Worrell nevertheless called on the Mia Mottley-led administration and stakeholders in the tourism sector to “be fully and actively engaged in efforts to secure international protocols for all travel by air, including airport procedures and screening”.

“We cannot have high expectations of a resuscitation of our tourism in the absence of global implementation of agreed practices, whatever we do at the national level,” he said. (DH)