As Hawaii remains in a shutdown gridlock, with seemingly no viable and concrete plan to reopen, we had a look at what some other tropical destinations are doing globally to welcome back tourism. These are some of the destinations visitors often choose as Hawaii vacation alternatives.
Two common threads are beginning to surface. The first is on-arrival testing, which we continue to say will by necessity become part of Hawaii’s plan, and should have been from the very beginning. (The State of Hawaii continues to say that there will be no testing available on arrival).
Also, some additional testing parters are coming forward (see French Polynesia below). Hawaii failed in only apparently partnering with CVS, who Jeff says he wouldn’t trust for sourcing chocolate let alone for having the wherewithal to provide Hawaii tests. (Details of that agreement have never been revealed).
French Polynesia.
Hawaii’s southern neighbor, which had just a fraction of Hawaii’s arrival numbers, is welcoming tourists starting July 15. There you must have a negative PCR test within 72 hours of departure. Then, 4 days after arrival, a second test is required. For pre-departure testing at their Los Angeles gateway, Tahiti has partnered with Reliance C0vid Testing for the readily available tests.
“In addition to the test required before departure, a self-test provided by French Polynesia, will need to be carried out on the fourth day after arrival in the destination. An envelope will be given to each traveler upon their arrival at the airport. This test consists of an oral and nasal swab, to be self-performed at the date indicated on the envelope containing a self-test kit with instructions and an information note.”
Caribbean Islands.
While no single Caribbean island has anything approaching Hawaii’s normal arrival numbers, overall, the Caribbean welcomed over three times the number of visitors that Hawaii did in 2019.
Netherlands Antilles. Aruba is welcoming visitors as of July 10. A PCR test either in advance or on arrival is also required with advance tests requiring online forms 12 hours before departure. While masks are not required, they are recommended when distancing is not possible.
British Antigua and Barbuda. Visitors provide a negative PCR test taken within seven days of departure in addition to tests on arrival at a cost of $100 per passenger. Masks are to be worn in public areas.
Bahamas. A negative PCR test taken within 10 days of arrival must be presented.
Barbados. Visitors must be tested either 72 hours in advance or upon arrival starting in July.
Caribbean-adjacent Bermuda. Complete online forms and pay $75 for on-arrival testing as well. That in addition to a PRC test taken within five days of departure for Bermuda. Visitors must self-isolate until they receive their on-arrival results.
Jamaica visitors began returning as of June 15. PCR testing is based on where visitors are coming from and is subject to change. High-risk passengers are provided tests on arrival. All visitors must remain in the tourism corridor of the island.
Puerto Rico opens on July 15, for visitors with a negative test within 72 hours of departure. Those without test results will have a mandatory isolation until results are obtained or perhaps longer.
Turks and Caicos islands will allow visitors starting July 22 and visitors must present a negative test result taken before departure. That was previously 3 days but was just changed to 5 days before departure. Masks required in public areas.
US Virgin Islands reopened on June 1. There are no test requirements at this time for US citizens.
Mexico.
While not an island, Mexico is an important competitive tourist destination for Hawaii. Visitors to Mexico face health screenings that include temperature checks and heat-sensing cameras. Those with fevers face the possibility of being returned or placed in isolation. No PCR testing requirements are currently listed as being necessary.
Are you traveling for vacation, and, if so, where will you be headed?
© Beat of Hawaii photo in French Polynesia.
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We are a state in the United States. Not a country or autonomously governed territory. So we don’t get to write our own rules. Sadly all locations mentioned will not be on my vacation list. Making visiting much more expensive and a difficult task all the enjoyment out of travel. Not to mention all the planning and effort and if a cancellation becomes required good luck getting deposits and airline tickets back.
We’ve cancelled our trip and from everything I’m seeing (and hearing), it’s going to take year’s for Hawaii to recover. I understand the issues with the medical system on the islands, but there should be a way to reopen. I would think that you could require a test for everyone coming to the islands. If someone does not want to be tested – then ship them back home. It does not make since to me for some to get tested before coming and other not to. If someone tests negative and someone else does not get tested and has it – then anyone close to him/her could then carry it. What ever you do – it’s got to be safe. You also can’t stay closed for several more months. As if you do, then you will see some no longer consider Hawaii as a vacation spot.
I’ll add, we cancelled – rather than reschedule because from what I have read, a number of businesses have gone out of business. I say that because I’m on the email list for some of the places my wife and I like to visit and they are closing their doors, with no plans on ever reopening.
I’m really concerned about Hawaii’s future….
My family and I have hotel and flight arrangements for the coming Thanksgiving week; it was planned almost two years ago. Do you think that testing will be settled and finalized before then?
It’s been 2 1/2 years since we’ve been there for my niece’s wedding, so we really didn’t have time to just relax and enjoy Maui.
This virus isn’t going away it will be with us for a very long time. In the future C0vid will be treated like flu, but instead of seasonal outbreaks we will be looking at a year round infection cycle. Vaccines and treatments will become routine for us, but even with this in place the infection will spread. Hawaii’s only question is when will they be prepared or willing to deal with a surge of c0vid virus on the islands.
We are being held hostage by politicians with no vision or capacity to loosin there reins of power ! I live on Maui and there hasn’t been a case here in 2 1/2 months and yet here we are. Our governor is determined to turn the islands into a wasteland of poverty
Aloha!
It is frustrating for all of us who live here, too. My wife and I live on Kaua’i, and C0VID-19 is clearly damaging to our economy, just as it is on the mainland, where it has killed too many.
We’d like to get back to the mainland where we have some rental properties to care for in Seattle, as well as be able to visit family there. We also have family in California, Arizona, Florida N.C., and R.I. whom we’d like to visit – but we can’t because travel to the mainland still poses too much risk.
It shocks many of us that so many on mainland are not taking precautions needed to control the pandemic by wearing masks, social distancing, minimizing time near people, etc. as we do here on island.
We’d like to welcome you back with Aloha, and get people back to work here soon. We too have to wait – please be patient, so you can come here without overwhelming our very limited health care system.
Mahalo and malama pono!
Hi Adam.
Thanks.
Aloha.
At crouch said they require a test 5 days before arrival….
Am I missing something or is not California, Texas, Oregon rolling back their openings plus many other states are having record positive tests and hospitalizations due to major out breaks of the virus? The EU won’t let US residents fly there. I wouldn’t fault Hawaii if they shut the place down until next year. How can the Government of Hawaii come up with a plan when the infection rate for the virus on the mainland keeps getting worse?
Thanks for the time, I love Hawaii but I’m willing to wait until it is safe for both myself and Hawaiians when I fly there.
Dan
I agree that testing (or at least a 2nd testing) after arriving would be ideal, however I don’t see how it can work here. As you pointed out, the other locations you listed don’t have the amount of tourists that Hawaii receives. Even if only half of our usual tourists arrived (which is what they projected 1 month after initiating the pre-testing program), that would be 15,000 tourists and tests PER DAY. We simply don’t have the tests or lab support for this. In addition, we could easily overwhelm our limited medical resources if we started finding COVID positive tourists. In a perfect world (or country) we would have as many rapid response tests as were needed. We all want tourists to return, but safely – not at the expense of our residents.
Your assessment is impeccable. I wish more people would look at the obvious and ask the obvious. If the US is the world leader, then why can’t we adopt a WWII attitude and demand industrial production to adequately deal with identification, contract tracing, and isolation?
We have been going to Hawaii for 20 plus years (lost count) we are now planning for the USVI and St. John, we’ve been there twice and based on Hawaii’s lack of concern for their own economy, we will be going east (from SLC).
Mahalo,
Craig
Thank you for the update. I knew about Tahiti French Polynesia so I might skip my two days in Hawaii before and after and just go through LAX instead.
Hi Beverly.
Thanks.
Aloha.
I hope you are sending this info as well as previous info you give us about other destinations to the State and County. Perhaps they know this already, but make them aware that YOU know and that you are telling potential visitors via your website.
Hi Kalina.
Thanks. The industry reads Beat of Hawaii.
Aloha.
If you’re retired or don’t work, then the foreign islands may be an option. But my firm and my wife’s hospital both mandate a 14-day quar antine if you return from a foreign country. So not really a vacation option.
Had to cancel our Hawaii trip three times. I will not be back for several years. Hoping you have an entirely new Governor by then.
We’ve rescheduled our Big Island trip twice now..I don’t think we will reschedule a third time but instead look for other destinations to spend our hard earned vacation money. I feel sorry for the residents of Hawaii and the terrible “leadership” or lack of that they have, your “leaders” are slowly killing the island economy.
Thank you Beat of Hawaii for your information and articles..
Hi Jan.
Thank you.
Aloha.
We have no choice but to reschedule our vacation for August 2020. When I booked the trip, they wanted to test within seven days and they just changed it today within 10 days which gives us a little bit more leeway. Everything else seems pretty simple. Fill out the form online upload your test and have the results in your hand and we are mask let’s just say pretty much all the time unless you’re on the beach or at the pool
Your comment is very unclear. You do know that you will not be able to travel at all in August even with a test right?
I just clicked on the testing site for Tahiti and wow amazing!!! It clearly shows a link to click for Air Tahiti travel testing, and then has links that you click for your exact day of departure so you are testing in the right pre time frame! It shows testing dates for 10 days out. That is exactly what Hawaii should have done. Seriously thinking Tahiti could be the replacement for my September 3rd Maui trip that will likely be cancelled.
Just FYI, I believe that if you travel outside the US, you will be required to quar antine for 14 days upon your return home.
We are currently in the US Virgin Islands, since our trip to the Big Island was cancelled (it would have been 12th visit to Hawaii). Here they are talking about beginning to require pre-arrival testing, and the governor actually announced it on about July 2nd, but didn’t implement it. Afraid that they would require testing, we got tested through CVS. The results didn’t come until 13 days later! I don’t know how that could work for Hawaii.
Where are you staying in the USVI. We are considering going. How is it there now?
I’ve always said I lived in a third world county. I was wrong; I live in a fourth world country…Very discouraging.
I hope you are commenting at a low point in your life. The U.S. is definitely not a third- or fourth-world country. I count my blessings every day that I am fortunate to be a resident. Savor the good that is around you.
Actually, this article points out that most islands are requiring stricter testing requirements (negative PCR both before and during stay)than that earlier proposed by Hawaii. Costs vary, but are close to the estimated cost from Hawaii’s test requirement. I have skin in this game as I run a vacation rental business, but realize that if Hawaii becomes the next FL, TX, AZ, CA, etc., my business will suffer for a longer period than waiting until the mainland can get its act together.
We were supposed to be in Maui this week. Changed our flights and accommodations to St. Thomas. Temp checks and masks at restaurants. Beaches are closing at 4pm and everyone is social distancing. Seems like Gov Igo has a plan to hurt Hawaii! First vacation I haven’t gone to Hawaii in several years.
Did you have to take any C0VID test prior or at arrival? Thank you!
How is it there? We are considering going. Is enough open to be worth the trip now?
Aloha! Interesting that neither Australia nor New Zealand were mentioned. Both have decided to put health and lives first.
I thought the same. Also, Canada (they did mention Mexico)is a popular visitor origination country, and Japan and Korea have managed to control their outbreaks. I know it irks some to look to those origination points (NZ, AU, CN, JP, K) as the safer visitor options, sometimes called “travel bubble” countries, but perhaps this would be the best way to introduce travel back to the islands until the mainland finds a way to control spread.
It’s infuriating. The way to control spread is to wear masks, social distance, wash hands and if possible just stay home! What don’t people get? It’s simple consideration and it’s painless. Sorry, but sometimes the dumbing down of America is really apparent and it’s sad.
I could not agree more. Claudia, it seems the urge for self gratification is out weighing common sense. Stay home , mask up and be patient. My parents generation sacrificed a hell of a lot more during the depression and then on to WWll . Cowboy up and let’s get through this in a safe and healthy way.
What if any are their regulations/requirements?
Cynthia
Houston, TX
As always, thank you for sharing these updates. Now, a question: do you know if the islands referenced created their plans before or after Hawaii had announced the original plan? Just wondering if other destinations were looking to Hawaii as the leader by example and based their requirements on what they thought Hawaii was going to do.
Hi David.
No we do not know.
Aloha.
Many of these topics elicit responses that require a political response.
For instance….if the State is making a policy that is detrimental to tourism, how do you not address is without discussing the political climate that enables the policy?
It seems Hawaii’s government’s needs assistance (from other states/countries) to get plans in place. The flip flop decision making is a huge turn off to us (visitors). I’ve changed my Kaua’i trip 3 times. September is not happening…..based on past non-decision making—in my opinion. I rebooted for January 2021….and working in a backup plan, just in case. We want Hawai’i safe, we also want clear and honest communication. Mahalo.
Hi Valerie.
Thanks.
Aloha.
Thank you for the info! We’re waiting it out but assume we will have to cancel our flight and accommodations for Oahu and Kauai in early October. While we certainly don’t mind being tested before departure, we are not currently in an area where we can get results quickly. Average is 4 days. Even if it was, say 24-48, hours, if we unexpectedly had a positive test result, we would have severe financial penalties to cancel.
It’s too much risk right now. We will wait until there are more options for rapid test results and cancelation policies are adjusted based on the final rules.
Hi EW.
Thanks.
Aloha.
The citizens of Hawaii need to vote different…these same old crooks are gonna kill this State!
Thanks, Scott, for saying that–my thoughts exactly.
The US Virgin Islands have restrictions for travelers from states with a C0VID positivity rate of 10% or greater. We originally had planned on going to Kauai at the end of August then changed to St Thomas USVI due to the HI restrictions and difficulty to comply. If the USVI fall through, we’re staying put until this is under control.
I totally agree. It’s sad what “our leaders” get away with.