In our last issue, #IslandsCaribbean revisited the topic of Digital Nomads in the Caribbean. The success of this programme is however contingent on the countries involved having and maintaining effective control over the COVID-19 pandemic relative to that of the markets they target. This issue is dedicated to exploring if this is in fact the case,
Our lead story “These Caribbean Islands Are Now Considered ‘Very High’ Risk for Travel”, by Travel & Leisure, indicates that this week the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had given Curaçao, Antigua and Barbuda their highest warning against travel. These are locations that offer digital nomad programmes.
That article goes on to mention that Aruba and Mexico had previously been given CDC’s highest warning against travel. Both Aruba and the Mexican Caribbean also offer digital nomad programmes; So do Bermuda and the Bahamas, which were given CDC’s second highest warning against travel. This amounts to four of the ten countries offering digital nomad programmes.
But, the designations are not totally negative. That article also mentioned that CDC had given Anguilla it’s lowest threat level. A supporting article “Anguilla Declares Itself Virus-Free”, by Travel Agent Central, explains that there had been no reported cases of COVID-19 there since February 15, 2021. Anguilla also offers a digital nomad programme.
Another Travel Agent Central article “Barbados Could Begin Vaccinating Visitors By End Of April”, though not mentioning digital nomads, seems to indicate that those so designated would also be vaccinated. This a very forward-thinking initiative of the Barbados government and is to be commended.
Finally, the two remaining articles further explain the economic effect the pandemic is having across the Caribbean travel industry, the economies of the respective destinations, and political effort being exerted to contain the negative effects and restore economic growth to the destinations, which cannot be quickly accomplished without reviving the travel industry.