Important talk by SXM Tourism Minister re entry requirements

Link with Dr. Soc

This talk with the SXM tourism minister and Dr. Soc is fairly lengthy, but is very worthwhile for anyone planning on travelling to SXM any time soon.

These are some notes that I took while listening to the talk. This is what I got out of it.

If I misunderstood anything, please feel free to correct me.

* All persons entering SXM from North America or Europe are REQUIRED to have a PCR test prior to entry to SXM

* The ONLY test that is acceptable is a PCR test (although apparently there is more than one kind of a PCR test) Some research is required there.

* The RESULT has to be obtained within no MORE than 72 hours of when you arrive. SO, if you are told it will take 7 days to get a result, you need to get the test done around 9 days before or so, so the test RESULT is not too old. The test does NOT have to be taken AND the result both obtained within 72 hours prior to arrival.

* It is possible there will be a website to upload results to, but YOU are responsible for ensuring that you have proof of your test with you upon arrival.

* It is my understanding that many test results are available via text message, which presumably would be very easy to fake. SXM officials are looking at options for how to be able to verify the test results are real.

* There will be at the least, temperature checks upon arrival in SXM.

* If somehow you show up without a test, you will be tested on island and quarantine will be MANDATORY, at YOUR expense, until the results come back (at least). I got the impression that the airlines are not taking any responsibility for making sure that you have the needed test.

* Apparently there is no current insurance that will cover Covid 19 evacuation currently. THIS PART I am kind of fuzzy on. The Tourism Minister is in the process of trying to arrange some insurance which would cover cost for quarantine, medical expenses on island and medical evac, but this is not yet in place. (Aruba does have such insurance in place, from what I understand, and to ME, I think it is expensive. The cost I heard for Aruba was $15 per person PER DAY, so a week insurance for two people would be $210, which is no small sum, to my mind. Dr. Soc said he thought that price was reasonable. I would disagree.)

* SXM is in the process of hoping to eventually be able to do testing on island for all who show up. Frankly, to me, testing before makes more sense.

" insurance for two people would be $210, which is no small sum, to my mind. Dr. Soc said he thought that price was reasonable. "
I would agree with Dr. Soc. 210 a couple for a week isn't bad insurance if it is needed.

I guess it depends on what it covers. I thought the insurance would cover ONLY the Covid portion, from my understanding. Just the medical in SXM for COVID (only), cost of quarantine and cost of medical evac, and no regular travel insurance portions.

The 2 questions I still regarding all this are, Is the border open? and Are there quarantine requirements on the French side? the most recent post about this on the IATA site is 8 days old.

Which border? The border between Dutch and French sides is open, yes. So long as you don't plan on leaving or arriving from either the French airport or via the ferry into the French side, French rules are irrelevant.

Thank you for posting this info Carol.

No problem. If someone has the time to listen to the whole talk, it is very interesting.

Thanks for the info about testing.

I received this email from the U.S. State Department in Curacao: "The U.S. Consulate is also aware that the governments of Bonaire and Curacao have announced plans to close their borders with any country that opens its borders to the United States."

So if you want to visit Bonaire or Curacao from St. Maarten, that will not be allowed, once international flights into SXM are resumed? Or will Bonaire or Curacao just close their borders to St. Maarten entirely, when international flights are permitted from overseas destinations?

Either way, it is not a good situation.

I don't understand your question, as it seems like the same thing?

I am wondering if SXM will be cut off from air travel to Bonaire and Curacao, once they allow flights from the US and Euro Land to arrive in St. Maarten?

That's a biggie and very helpful

https://dnyuz.com/2020/06/23/eu-may...ens-borders-citing-coronavirus-failures/

The EU may ban travel from US as it reopens borders? I believe the French side follows France decisions on these guidelines and it might cause mass confusion on SXM. I will wait and see how this all plays out. I am not planning to go to SXM till Dec./Jan 2021

Yep!

Well, EU countries have higher death rates per million people when it comes to covid-19. Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, Sweden, and France are all higher than the US per million people.

Correct, but news media concentrates on the total per country which we are the highest under Brazil.

Leslie from Kenny's car rental said both sides are open. If US can travel into PJIA then no problem. Problem might be if you flew into the French side airport and they are following EU decisions.

And that's the answer today. Things can, and do, change. If the EU bans US visitors, and if St. Martin follows France, they can close the borders. They closed them at the beginning of the health crisis, and can do it again.

Since St Martin MUST follow France, I expect that is what will happen. Thinking of moving to the French side!

Elaine--do you seriously think they will close the border again??

How else would they keep US folks out? We'll see.

The problem in my mind, would be that the border would have to be manned to check passports of anyone who wanted to cross, if the border was only closed to certain nationalities. Local residents, and the residents of non-prohibited nations, should be allowed to cross.

As with many things French, there are no guarantees one way or the other. Yes, the Overseas Territories must follow the rules put in place by France, but based on local conditions, France sometimes puts different rules in place for some or all of the Overseas Territories. One recent example is that travel restrictions between the French Caribbean islands were lifted, but the restrictions on travel between mainland France and the islands remained in place for a longer period of time (and may still have a few days to go - I've lost track). Another is that the health emergency is being lifted in France and most of the Overseas Territories, but in Guiana and Mayotte it may be extended until the end of October.

US travelers were allowed to return to St Barth as of Monday, with most arrivals transiting through San Juan.

Why are you so scared of the "US folks" if they have a negative test? You do realize that less than 1 percent of the US population has tested positive for the virus, right? Remember many of your neighbors are not retired ex-pats and they need for the island to safely welcome guests so they can feed their families.

As I have said before, the island may be surprised that many people are not going to be travelling anytime soon. There are many people here that have been staying in and wearing masks and doing everything else that was told would help, especially the older ones who don't want the virus. Not everyone in the States has been on a wild ride getting sick. Many of us not willing to go through airports and sit on planes right now--even to get to SXM.

Yes a long haul .

I've checked the government website and the tourism board website and there is nothing on either relating to a Cover-19 test being necessary to enter SXM? How do we know if the 72 hour test is just a rumor or not?

I can't wait to get back to St. Maarten. I don't want to cause any harm obviously so hopefully they will clear up some things and we will be able to take whatever test is required before traveling. I'll be honest, I will not get on a plane to go there unless I know I will be able to actually enjoy the island.

The EU is considering banning US travel to their countries, which includes France.

And don't pretend you know anything about me or my neighbors.

I know little about this. Is it the origin of a flight being from USA or the passport? I know someone who has both EU and US passports. Does that mean they could fly somewhere allowing flights from US then fly into French St Martin on their EU passport? Doesn't this defeat everything if that's possible? This same person frequently avoided the Cuban ban when the USA did not allow US into Cuba some time ago.

And MrWhiskerssammy is right, in that I've seen many incidents of American's total disregard for quarantine. If we all followed rules like the people of SXM perhaps we'd be at zero cases also and all these travel questions would be moot. (my opinion)

I have no idea what you are talking about! Your numbers make no sense and what is it about ex pats etc that you are hung up on? Neighbors have to be fed?
I'm confused!

Wow, I was planning on a trip this Jan but will consider canceling, too many restrictions

I would expect a lot to change between now and January. No idea to what degree or extent but I would expect things to be much different a few months from now. Maybe for the better and maybe not.

Agree. January is 6 months from now. A lot can happen. 6 months ago, none of us even knew what Corona virus was..

Hopefully there will be a vaccine by then.

Not too hopeful for an AVAILABLE vaccine but I am hopeful for changes by January

Can anyone please clarify one point on the testing. Where we live some people are getting test results back in 24 hours while others have had to wait up to six days. How can SXM require your test results be less than 72 hours old on your date of travel when you have no control over how long it will take to get the results?

That's what they are requiring. I guess the answer is that you have to do some research before and find out how long the results are taking, and go somewhere that you can be guaranteed to get your results in proper amount of time.

That's a very good question; I was thinking the same.