New Traveler Protocol 10/26/20

So I just listed to the Premier detail the new protocols;

A negative PCR test )up to 5 days before arrival
Register with a website and get clearance to travel
Staggered arrival of planes at Beef Island airport
2nd COVID test
Install tracking app
Must have travel insurance that covers COVID
Quarantine for 4 days at your own expense at an approved place
3rd COVID test at the end of 4 days
Movement is limited to designated areas
All restaurants and shops are required to take your temp and document with your name and date/time
4th COVID test on the 8th day
If all 4 previous test are negative, you are now free to move around the islands
Oh, and seaports opening on December 8



Did I miss anything or get it wrong? Please correct me if I did.

I didn't hear anything on seaports. But could have been too busy writing notes. lol

I agree with your summary up to seaports.

So essentially an 8 day Q and 4 additional tests all at your own expense. For "the next several months". I can't turn my 8 day charter into 17 days.

It makes me wonder if their actual goal is to minimize tourist entry for several more months while they work out some of the kinks and pray for vaccines and reduced infection rates in the spring time. A quick bit of math indicates this would probably double the cost of a vacation to the BVI for my wife and I.

I had some hope the BVI might allow charterboats to sail and quarantine onboard as long as they did not go ashore. The posted protocols are far worse than I expected. I hate calling tomorrow to cancel my Dec trip but there is no choice. The question is should I cancel my April trip now or wait a bit.
G

I agree George. I have already emailed my charter company regarding the December charter. There is no way we can extend for another week to accommodate testing and Q. Really doubtful my February charter will happen either. Sigh.

No indication on costs. This is worse than I experienced when I went in the communist areas of eastern europe.
You also have to add in another covid test to go home. Forget it, I will not go.

Has anything "official" been posted in writing by BVI Gov?

I could care less about their official site. It can only be worse.

True - "enough" information has been given to make a decision on trip the next few months

Have to agree - they don't want tourists, but want to be able to say they opened up. Looking doubtful for us, even though we planned to go for three months.

https://bvi.gov.vg/media-centre/sta...ce-phase-one-re-opening-tourist-industry

I'm not sure this link will work. It is the transcript of the premiers earlier statement.

What is an approved place to do 4 day quarantine?

For me, its over. The 2021 season is over. And my revenue from the villa is over.

BVI Protocols at Airport Dec 1.

Negative PCR test within 5 days

Planes are staggered landing

No more than 90 people in at a time on a plane. Not that that is a problem we have no planes coming in that take more than that

Everyone goes to a new welcome complex by the airport. They will have another test.

Then they will be put in "approved" taxis to "approved accommodations" where you have to quarantine for 4 days

Then another test

then you will have access to a limited areas where you cannot mingle with outhers for the next few days

On day 8 one more test if that is good, then you will be allowed access to the island

At the welcome center they will also put a tracking app on your phone with a geo fence

Some may have to wear a tracking bracelet ( I am assuming this may. be for people without cell phones)

You must have COVID insurance to come in. They did not mention, but I think that there will have partnered with a company to offer this


Any business that opens to tourists MUST have the Gold Seal certification

And their employees will have had to take the certification program at the college before they will be allowed to open

This is only available to BVI based businesses

They have NOT clarified how much each test will cost. I have heard $135 per person and also $250 per person on coconut telegraph

They have NOT clarified what an approved accommodation facility is and what the cost is

There is NO information on Seaports other than one sentence that said "Prospective Dec 8 opening"

But they did not put this all in place to just let other boats in from anywhere on December 8th.

I bellieve they have come up with a way for long term residents and visitors as well as those who need to get into the BVI to come in. But, not the general tourist

And yet Forbes magazine lists them as a top destination for 2021.....HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Good point, Kerry. I think it would be a good middle ground to make it feasible for homeowners and long-term renters to come. They'll typically be staying longer and they'll definitely contribute to the economy.

We had planned to make one more visit to the BVI.

Never going to happen.

Sad

Since I have my boat in the BVI I'll have to return, but with these conditions (considering I'll have to stay in a hotel rather than on my comfortable boat) I feel held over a barrel by the BVI. The hypocrisy of saying they are opening to tourists while imposing restrictions that will make any sane tourist opt for another island destination is just too much. And we know how it will end up - the website won't work and people will be denied entry. The wait at the airport will be interminable. The "approved taxis", "approved hotels", "approved insurance", "approved tests" will be at inflated prices, inferior service, and a few belongers will profit handsomely while the majority will not see much, if any, tourism dollars. There will be new fees and surcharges; and the only consolation is that the anchorages will be either empty or at least less crowded.

I wonder what the BVI government is charging places to get "certified"?

So basically this takes the 'tour' out of the word tourists. I have a 7-day charter booked for April 22nd. These requirements makes that unworkable. On the plus side, BVI Yacht Charters has thus far been very accommodating in allowing us to keep rebooking. Although this might be the nail in the coffin and I wind up losing thousands of dollars in deposits. This really does leave a sour taste in my mouth.

Zanshin One way trip. Get to the yacht and leave.

Zanshin - maybe consider having her delivered to the USVI. There are several very reputable companies allowed to perform this service. I know one captain that has done several deliveries that I would trust with my boat. Let me know if you'd like a reference.

Regarding approval. We were inspected and approved to house quarantine guest back in June. There was not a charge at that time to be approved.

I emailed BVIYC this morning to reschedule us yet again. Way too much money to just eat the loss. I will hold out hope that June will be better.

Now to tackle Intercaribbean Airlines.

I am truly thinking of relocating "Zanshin" to another island. But there's a saying German "Es wird nichts so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird" which translates to "You don't eat food as hot as when it is cooked" (it loses something in the translation) but it means that things are often not as bad as they sound when announced. Just like a couple of months ago when word came around that every boat in the BVI had to have a local "agent" (remember that one?) and of course nothing came of it.

So before committing to leaving the island permanently I'll wait to see what really happens and I have to find permanent storage. At the moment it looks like Antigua or perhaps all the way south in Grenada.

But each year the BVI seems to come up with new schemes to make the stays less enjoyable and to drain even more money off visitors - without offerring anything substantially better to justify those new fees, taxes and regulations.

Similar to haste makes waste. I agree. Hang in for a while, and if it does not work out its time to say manana.

Emailed BVIYC as well to postpone our Dec charter. We were really holding out hoping that things would be better, had already rescheduled out 2020 trip 2-3 times as it is... They’ve been understanding and helpful so far. Not much we can really do with the current restrictions on a 7 day charter. We’ve already paid 50% of the charter at this point. I guess that will just make our 2021 booking that much less of a financial hit!

This is truly heartbreaking..we need to get back to CRC but this seems unworkable especially since C is not in the best of shape to travel to start with. Going to give it a day or two to digest this. In the meantime we have not paid our property tax and have not renewed our residency because it has to be done in person.What a mess. And the Thing sits there rusting away! If anyone hears that protocols are different for residents or those with "permission to reside" please post it as that may make it workable...if its workable!!

Malcom, It is different for non-tourists. Landholders and work permit holders currently apply for approval to come, quarantine 14 days and pay for security (if at their properties). On Jost Van Dyke last Thursday the Premier announced they would be changing that to 7 days and electronic monitoring in place of a guard. He gave no other details (like if testing was involved and when this would go into effect). So, hang in there.

As of October 1st, you pay even for govt. quarantine facility. $3500 for security at your residence or $2500 for housing, food, and security at a govt. hotel.

I have already passed my inspection from Enviromental Health and Covid control cert in the post. Jumped through all the new hoops and now this...

The protocols and training for places that people can visit with the Gold Seal. I asked the 3 agencies mentioned by the Premier.

Tourist Board said ask HLSCC , HLSCC said ask Tourist Board...

HLSCC do not know how to get this as training is only for line staff, no manager supervisor training till January...

Enviromental Health do not know anything about this and will inform once they know.

This has been my conversations this morning.

Last night was the first time I've ever heard about Gold Seal. Did you ever find out what it means?

We registered to take Front Desk and Housekeeping classes but were told we are not eligible because we are managers and have to wait until January for the manager classes.

I don't think any or our guests will be coming anyway so it doesn't matter that much to us.

....and between what Peter is describing and what we know to be a less-than-savvy location as far as internet, cell service, etc is concerned...what could POSSIBLY go wrong with trying to track tested people? Can you just imagine the site crashing? What happens then?

The risks of heading down there? Knowing what I know after all these years of going there? Nope nope nope.....

OK, not to make a stupid statement, but shouldn't the managers be the first ones to be trained, so that they know what the front desk and housekeeping staff should be doing??

Gold Seal is. an American accredited certificate taught through the college.

The head of training at HLSCC now needs to reschedule all the training for Managers as this was news to them also

That is a Canadian program for the construction industry with the same name. No reference to the BVI.

Glad to hear everything is normal in the BVI!

Some more oil on the fire; one has to love all the comments

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/gps-tracking-multiple-covid-19-tests-for-vi-tourists
https://bvinews.com/visitors-wont-be-able-to-roam-freely-immediately-after-quarantine/

Saw on Facebook where Dolphin Water Taxi posted they have had over 450 guest cancellations since yesterdays announcement for the two week period of Christmas and New Years.

The comments are the best part of any BVI news article.

If you need permanent storage I would check with Puerto del Rey Marina, they have probably the best 24/hr security in the Caribbean and a yard that has survived hurricane Maria with minimal damage.
Something to look into.

So now the Premier is blaming tourists for booking before the protocols were announced.

https://www.284media.com/local/2020...EzA7SZd0E7Vc_ahovvoE5mjtCjq2fRkHAta286ew

Sure, the bureaucrats don’t care. They continue to get paid their salary.
Businesses without revenue can’t stay in business.

Why can’t the bureaucratic tyrants realize that without business revenue there will be no taxes. And eventually no money to pay their salaries?

Ridiculous

They havent got my property tax $$..They are holding my$3,500 fee or whatever they called it for "permission to reside" and many of us have been powerful promoters of our beloved islands without the $$ million backing and thanks of the Gov and Tourist Board ( how is that fancy office in London working for you?)This is how you thank us NON belongers!

no, not in the BVI

Here is a good article on where vaccination efforts stand. I now believe a viable vaccine is the only thing that will open the BVI.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/10/27/vaccine-race-meets-harsh-reality-432964

Did you really think they appreciate investors and tourists? They can care less if the economy succeeds or collapses.
Tourists keep throwing them $20 tips for hearing them say Good morning.