GRAND BAHAMA ISLAND ATTRACTIONS & TOURS OPENING ON JULY 13TH
Posted by: admin | July 16th, 2020
And Special Summer Offers at Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina and Taino Beach Resort – Marlin Building
Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas, July 13th, 2020……The Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board (GBITB) is pleased to announce that on July 13th, 2020, they are moving on to the Phase 3 status of their reopening, to include the reopening of island Attractions and Dive & Watersports.
Several resort properties are now open and operating, with special offers to welcome residents and visitors back to the island. Two properties, in particular, have introduced enticing summer specials that make Grand Bahama Island the perfect and most affordable island escape.
The Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina is offering a two-night getaway rate of US$246 per room, based on double occupancy, inclusive of all taxes and resort fees. An additional night is US$123.00 includes taxes and fees, and an additional person (up to four in a room) is $34.00 per person per night including taxes. Children under 12 years old stay for free.
The Taino Beach Resort – Marlin Building is offering studio units at US$130 per night, and the rate includes taxes for two guests. One-bedroom units that can accommodate up to 6 guests are $180 per night, with a tax of $19 per person, per night. For information and reservations contact Time Travel Flamingo Bay, Tel: 954-484-4757 / 1-800-824-6623.
As a special offer to welcome back visitors, Grand Bahama Island has partnered with Bahamasair to offer a rate of $229 for a round trip fare from Ft. Lauderdale to Freeport for travel in the month of July. This rate includes all taxes; tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.
Silver Airways currently has daily flights from Fort Lauderdale to Freeport, and American Airlines resumes flights from Miami to Freeport on August 19th. Domestic carriers Bahamasair and Westernair Bahamas have several flights daily to and from Nassau.
The Bahamas Tourism Readiness and Recovery Committee has been working diligently with the GBITB, following extensive consultations with the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and the Bahamas Ministry of Health, to facilitate the phased reopening of the island.
Phase 1 of the Tourism Recovery Plan ran from June 15 – 30, and allowed for the entry of boaters, yachters and private aviation. Beaches and parks reopened on Monday June 29th, as well as restaurants where capacity was limited to 50%.
Phase 2 started on Wednesday, July 1st when the international airports were reopened for commercial flights. Sea travel resumed as well with Balearia Caribbean ferries restarting operations on July 2. The Bahama Paradise Cruise Line (BPCL) will make its first port of call at Freeport on August 28th. Taxi services became operational, along with private and public bus services at 50% occupancy.
Phase 3 starts on July 13th with the activations of Attractions, Dive & Watersports, Excursions and Tours. The following establishments will be open:
■ Blue Green Outdoors ■ Calabash Eco Adventures
■ CocoNutz Cruisers ■ Fragrance of the Bahamas
■ Garden of the Groves ■ Grand Bahama Nature Tours
■ H. Forbes Charter Service ■ Paradise Cove
■ Pinetree Stables ■ Port Lucaya Marketplace
■ Rand Nature Center ■ Renu Day Spa
■ S and D Coach Tours ■ Westend Ecology Tours
■ Westend Watersports
UNEXSO resumes operations on July 15th. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, dolphin close encounters are offered at a special rate of US$68 plus tax, and dolphin swims at US$125 plus tax. Shark and tank dives are also offered on those days. Instructions for the PADI openwater SCUBA certification begins on July 18th at a cost of $350 plus tax, plus the cost of the online learning fee. This includes all materials, instruction and dives, and the certification fee.
Phase 4 is slated to start on July 27th
- Straw vendors and Jet Ski operators may reopen.
In order to mitigate any risk of new infections, all health and safety protocols will be strictly enforced. All locals and incoming travelers will need to adhere to social distancing guidelines and the use of personal protective equipment in all public areas. The health sector remains equipped and ready to respond to any emergency as needed.
It is recommended that all travelers interested in visiting The Bahamas review the requirements applicable to each member of their traveling party at www.bahamas.com/travelupdates , before booking a trip.
Following are the testing protocols and entry requirements for incoming visitors, effective July 8th, 2020:
- All travelers must complete an electronic Bahamas Health Visa application before departure from the place of embarkation. This can be found at gov.bs. The Health Visa application process will take twenty-four to forty-eight (24-48) hours and should be completed with adequate lead time
- All travelers are required to upload a negative COVID-19 RT-PCR (swab) test with a sample taken within ten (10) days of arrival and provide contact information. Tests over 10 days old will not be accepted.
- The only persons approved to travel are those who have received a green color-coded response, as proof of approval. This confirmation must be presented upon arrival in The Bahamas.
- Valid Passport
- Failure to comply with the stated requirements will result in denied entry
Bahamians and residents returning from countries where they cannot obtain COVID-19 tests will be permitted entry. However, they may be required to quarantine for a period of time.
The continued reopening of Grand Bahama Island may be scaled back and adjusted if there is a deterioration of the COVID-19 infection trends, or if it is determined that the protocols and procedures in place are insufficient to move forward with the full opening.
For more information please visit www.bahamas.com/travelupdates, or contact the Ministry of Tourism COVID-19 travel hotline at (242) 502-0829 Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 6 PM, or via email at [email protected].