Tourism officials confirmed yesterday that they are reviewing the implementation of a charge for the domestic travel visa, required for Bahamian residents to travel to the Family Islands.
Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis earlier this week announced an end to the mandatory quarantine for travelers leaving New Providence going to the Family Islands, however, he mandated that travelers from New Providence and Grand Bahama to the rest of The Bahamas will be required to obtain a travel visa, complete a daily health questionnaire and take a rapid antigen test on the fifth day after their travel.
In response to Guardian Business inquiries yesterday, the Ministry of Tourism stated, “There is not currently a charge, but that is under review.”
The question was posed after Progressive Liberal Party Deputy Leader and Member of Parliament for the Exumas and Ragged Island Chester Cooper lamented that a $25 fee was being charged for the travel visa.
“It has come to my attention that the government is charging $25 for the health visa for travel to the Family Islands. It is patently absurd and should immediately be stopped,” Cooper said in a statement posted to his official social media page.
“There is already a requirement to have a negative RT-PCR molecular test to travel to the Family Islands from Nassau and Grand Bahama. Those tests cost at least $125 and up to $225.
But this new charge places an additional burden on Bahamians who want to return home to the Family Islands. I ask that this decision be reversed immediately. It flies in the face of good sense and once again burdens Bahamians at a time of great economic upheaval.”
The government announced new travel protocols for foreign visitors in late October, which indicated that visitors no longer needed to quarantine or be tested upon arrival in The Bahamas, as had been previously mandated.
The quarantine protocol remained in place, however, for locals visiting the Family Islands, with the government citing its concern regarding high numbers of new COVID-19 cases.
Since then there has been a significant decrease in the number of new COVID-19 cases.
The post Implementation of $25 charge for domestic travel visa ‘under review’ appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/implementation-of-25-charge-for-domestic-travel-visa-under-review/
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