The countries, which have chosen to maintain open borders in light of the recent Omicron spike, albeit with varying degrees of restrictions, hope a new so-called “tourist circuit” will prove attractive to visitors keen on exploring the region further.
Although not much is yet known about the endeavor, Pablo Javier Pérez Campos, Ambassador of Panama to the Dominican Republic (DR), recently disclosed that an agreement was reached last December at the Summit Alliance for Development in Democracy, held in Puerto Plata.
According to Campos, the three nations will develop a “circuit” between them, in order to provide visitors from the United States, Canada and all around the world a “unique experience” when travelling the region.
American travellers, who have recently been once again facing more stringent testing requirements at European borders, and have turned to the Caribbean and Latin America for sunny getaways, will surely welcome the news.
Elaborating on the topic, Campos highlighted the “tourism potential” of The DR, Costa Rica and Panama, and stressed that deeper regional integration will improve the quality of life of the local population.
When Will It Be Implemented?
As Campos has only just raised the topic, no official announcements have been made by The DR, Costa Rica or Panama’s tourism representatives.
Additionally, no implementation date has been set yet, meaning it is still difficult to assess when the “tourist circuit” could come into force, whether in 2022 already or in upcoming years.
Currently, all three nations involved are battling a surge in COVID infections, driven mostly by the new Omicron variant.
What Are The Current Rules For Entering The DR, Costa Rica And Panama From The U.S.?
The Dominican Republic
U.S. passport holders are allowed to travel to The DR with few COVID-related restrictions.
They do not need to present a vaccination card, negative PCR or rapid antigen test upon entry, but may be selected for a quick, aleatory breath test when landing.
Being fully vaccinated for no less than 3 weeks, or presenting a negative PCR taken within 72 hours of arrival normally exempts travelers from the random test.
Costa Rica
All international tourists are permitted to enter Costa Rica by air, land and sea, with no vaccination status, nor pre-departure testing being relevant to border authorities.
Unvaccinated travelers must still provide proof of a medical insurance policy covering any COVID-related medical treatment or quarantine expenses while in Costa Rica.
Normally, Americans visitors do not need a visa for short-term visits to Costa Rica, with direct flights serving the Central American destination from several U.S. cities.
Visitors should keep in mind that Costa Rica has lunched an internal vaccine passport in order to visit public venues such as restaurants.
Panama
Vaccinated arrivals to Panama must present a digital or physical full COVID certificate, indicating they received all required doses of an approved vaccine by the WHO, FDA or EMA at least 14 days before travel.
They are exempt from any further testing and quarantine requirements.
On the other hand, unvaccinated visitors are required to present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken at most 72 hours prior to traveling, or, if unable to produce it, be tested on arrival at their own expense.
When arriving from a high-risk country, even in possession of a negative COVID test, the unvaccinated are required to quarantine for 72 hours and then be tested again at the end of this period.
The quarantine is extended to a further 10 days when tests return positive.
Tags: COVID-19 pandemic, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Omicron variant, World Health Organization (WHO)
