Bahamas Hotel & Tourism Association

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association’s (BHTA) president yesterday hailed the US easing its health travel advisory on the country as “a big boost” for the economy’s largest industry.

Robert Sands told Tribune Business that the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) move to upgrade The Bahamas from a “Level 4” to “Level 3” status “removes a major deterrent” for potential tourists wanting to travel to this destination.

The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines has likely slowed down the recovery of the travel and tourism industry, as people “wait and see” what the travel industry will look like in the era of the vaccine, Managing Director and Partner of Boston Consulting Group Marguerite Fitzgerald said yesterday, adding that data compiled by his company has determined that global tourism numbers will not return to 2019 levels until 2023 or 2024.

COVID-19 vaccinations must not become a requirement for international travel, Vice President for Government Affairs at the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Lola Una Cardenas told the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) yesterday.

The Bahamas Hotel and Tourism Association's (BHTA) president has voiced optimism that this nation's five-day COVID testing system has put it "ahead of the curve" to meet new US requirements.