Antigua and Barbuda has continued its model tourism reopening with a new designation by the US CDC as a “low-risk” destination. 

Antigua and Barbuda has been moved to Level 1, the lowest risk level, in the most recent travel advisory by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

In other words, it’s one of the safest destinations in the world right now.

Level 1 countries include those like Australia and New Zealand — countries that have reported fewer than 50 cases in the last days. 

 “We are delighted that Americans can have confidence in traveling to our shores,” said The Hon. Charles “Max” Fernandez, Minister of Tourism & Investment.  “We have worked very hard to ensure the safety of our people and our visitors and this has paid off in lower numbers of COVID infections and reduced impact on our economy. This latest announcement by the CDC is an endorsement of everything we have done.” 

Antigua was among the first Caribbean destinations to reopen for tourism when it did so at the beginning of June 2020. 

Since then, it’s embarked on an exemplary tourism reopening. 

“There is every indication that this is another step towards a full recovery,” Fernandez said.  “We want to ensure that we move forward enthusiastically but with all necessary care to ensure that we do this right.”

The post CDC: Antigua and Barbuda Among World’s Safest Destinations appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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Southwest Airlines is set for a big Caribbean relaunch this coming fall, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

The announcement comes as increased vaccinations and traveler confidence continue to lead to a tourism rebound in the Caribbean. 

“With demand for beach and leisure destinations continuing to increase, Southwest intends to resume service to all of its previously served international destinations by Nov. 7,” the carrier said in a statement. 

That will kick off Oct. 7, when Southwest relaunches daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, The Bahamas; Grand Cayman and Providenciales, Turks and Caicos. 

No Nov. 7, Southwest will then resume daily nonstop service from Fort Lauderdale to both Cancun, Mexico and Montego Bay, Jamaica. 

On the same date, Southwest will also resume once-daily nonstop service from Houston Hobby and Belize City, Belize. 

Southwest also announced it would be launching a new nonstop route to Cancun, with daily service from Chicago O’Hare and Cancun beginning Nov. 7. 

Southwest will serve Cancun from a total of 17 airports in the United States this winter. 

— CJ

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American Airlines has launched its newest Caribbean route, with nonstop service from Dallas-Fort Worth to St Maarten. 

The new flights, which launched this week, are operating every week on Saturdays. 

American Airlines is operating the service on Airbus A321 aircraft, with plans to operate through at least the end of the summer. 

American Airlines continues to ramp up its air service in the wider Caribbean, with increased vaccinations and traveler confidence leading to a full-fledged Caribbean surge. 

The launch comes as St Maarten continues what has been a successful tourism reopening first launched in the summer of 2020. 

That includes both the Dutch and French sides of the island.

So what’s open? On the Dutch side, that means popular resorts like the Oyster Bay Beach Resort, Coral Beach Club and Sonesta Maho resort complex. 

And then there’s the new Morgan resort, the first new hotel in St Maarten in years, which just opened at the beginning of June.

On the French side, travelers can choose from top resorts like the Grand Case Beach Club and the newly-relaunched Belmond La Samanna, among others. 

For more on how to visit St Maarten, see here. 

— CJ

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Melia is relaunching its premier resort in the Dominican Republic, Caribbean Journal has learned. 

On June 15, the company will launch the former Grand Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real as the new Paradisus Grand Cana, according to a statement. 

The all-inclusive Paradisus Grand Cana, formerly known as the Grand Reserve at Paradisus Palma Real, will be focused on a “multi-generational vacation experience,” with a total of 432 suites. 

The circle-shaped hotel, set across four floors in the heart of Bavaro, has a total of six eateries, and a mix of rooms ranging from one-bedroom suites to two-bedroom “master inner circle” suites. 

“As we continue to welcome back travelers, we are thrilled to offer this elevated experience in Punta Cana,” said André Gerondeau, Chief Operating Officer for Meliá Hotels International. “We know that The Reserve is something special that will create lasting memories for our guests.”

The property is located at the broader Paradisus Palma Real complex in Punta Cana; the Palma Real resort just reopened its doors earlier this month. 

It had originally made its debut in Punta Cana at the end of 2018, the third Paradisus-branded resort in the Dominican Republic. 

Melia has reopened both properties with its Stay Safe With Melia program, the product of a partnership with Bureau Veritas; the program is now in place at more than 340 Melia hotels around the world, with a focus on health and safety measures from temperature checks for all guests to in-room health kits. 

For more, visit Paradisus by Melia. 

— CJ

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Spirit Airlines is expanding to Miami International Airport, and that means a wave of new flights to the carrier’s wheelhouse in the Caribbean.

Crucially, it will represent an expansion — meaning it will supplement Spirit’s existing service at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the company said.

The plan is for “additional growth in South Florida due to demand that’s strong and getting even stronger,” Spirit said in a statement.

Spirit is already the largest airline at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood.

“The demand is there to support growth throughout South Florida,” the carrier said. “Our flying out of MIA is in support of continued expansion in the region.”

So where will Spirit be flying in the Caribbean?

Beginning in October, Spirit will kick off a number of new routes to the Caribbean out of Miami, most of which will be daily.

That includes daily flights to Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, both of which will launch Oct. 6.

That will be followed by daily service to Barranquilla, Colombia beginning Nov. 17.

On Nov. 17, Spirit will also launch daily flights to San Pedro Sula, Honduras and San Jose, Costa Rica and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

On Nov. 18, Spirit will kick off new flights from Miami to St Thomas in the United States Virgin Islands, with flights operating three times each week.

It will only reinforce the carrier’s growing presence in the Caribbean, following a several-years-long Caribbean expansion out of Orlando as well.

For more, visit Spirit.

— CJ

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