News Regional Jamaica relaxes COVID-19 travel restrictions Barbados Today25/02/2022053 views Effective March 1, 2022, travellers to Jamaica will no longer be required to obtain travel authorization to enter the island. Travellers 12 years of age and older will only need to provide a negative result from a COVID-19 Antigen or PCR test conducted within 72 hours prior to their travel. Additionally, they will no longer face travel-related quarantine measures. “Eliminating travel-related quarantines and the need for travelllers to fill out and receive approval of the Travel Authorization form are key steps in relaxing our travel protocols as the global spread of COVID-19 declines,” said the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism. “We are confident that these refreshed entry requirements will increase the appeal of Jamaica as a destination of choice and help us continue on our path to recovery for the tourism sector and wider economy as a whole.” Jamaica has recently shortened the isolation period required for U.S. travellers who test positive for COVID-19 while in Jamaica, in keeping with CDC recommended guidelines, and eliminated quarantine restrictions for fully vaccinated business travellers who present a negative PCR test taken within 3 days of travel to the island. “We are continually reviewing our Jamaica CARES programme and travel protocols to align with best practices from internationally recognized organizations and ensure that Jamaica retains its position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations,” noted Donovan White, Director of Tourism. “These changes are timed to go into effect as destinations across the globe are enacting similar revisions to their travel requirements.” The health and safety of every Jamaican and every visitor to the country remains the island’s top priority through its comprehensive Jamaica CARES programme. Jamaica CARES is a nationwide response to COVID-19 that includes the island’s comprehensive health and safety protocols which were among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels recognition and allowed the island to safely reopen in June of 2020. For more information about Jamaica, go to www.visitjamaica.com. (PR)