Category Archives: Caribbean

Economic integration continues to be at the forefront of the OECSs regional integration initiatives for the Economic Union. To this end, a specially funded cohort of trade and legal practitioners from the OECS region benefited from the introduction of a short course on the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ).

On Monday, January 10, 2022, the OECS Commission in collaboration with the Shridath Ramphal Centre (UWI-SRC) officially launched the short course on Caribbean Community Law and the Caribbean Court of Justice. The course was funded under the OECS ACP TradeCom II Programme and ran from January 10-14, 2022. Twelve (12) practitioners across the six (6) OECS Protocol Member States completed the course.

The virtual training aimed to sensitize and enhance the knowledge of legal practitioners on substantive and procedural Caribbean Community Law, the rules, and procedures of the CCJ in its original jurisdiction, and the case law developed by the Court thereunder. As a result of this training, the increased knowledge in the region of Caribbean Community Law should lead to an increase in the caseload of the CCJ, leading to a quicker pace of development of the legal framework for economic integration in the region.

The course familiarized the participants with the institutional and governance components of CARICOM, which plays an integral role in the operation of the legal framework governing economic integration. Participants were also provided in-depth knowledge of the original jurisdiction of the CCJ; examined select aspects of procedural Community Law and examined crosscutting/thematic issues arising from the CCJs adjudication of disputes thus far in its original jurisdiction.

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The course featured the CCJ President, the Honourable Justice Adrian Saunders, as well as various CCJ practitioners and experts such as Dr. David Berry, Kurt Da Silva, Dr. Corlita Babb, Simone Mayhew, Gladys Young, Dr. Kathy Ann Brown, Dr. Chantal Ononaiwu, Sir Dennis Byron, Hon. Mme. Justice Maureen Rajnauth-Lee, Hans Lim A Po, Professor Mikael Madsen, Hon. Mr. Justice Jacob Witt, Professor James Gathii and Claude Chase.

This is one of seven (7) short courses that the OECS Commission in collaboration with the UWI-SRC will be offering over the coming months. In December 2021, trade and legal practitioners in the OECS benefited from a short course on Competition Law.

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Eastern Caribbean Trade and Legal Practitioners benefit from OECS - UWI course on the Caribbean Court of Justice - St. Lucia News From The Voice - The...

Royal Caribbean has decided to reposition its Spectrum of the Seas to Singapore earlier than expected. The Quantum-ultra class vessel is set to begin sailings in early April 2022. It comes after a difficult time operating cruises to nowhere out of Hong Kong.

Cruisers out of Singapore will be able to enjoy one of Royal Caribbeans newest ships, Spectrum of the Seas. Currently based out of Hong Kong, the vessel is now set to repositing to begin cruises from Singapore much earlier than originally scheduled.

Spectrum of the Seas will begin three- to four-night Ocean Getaways on April 11, 2022, six months earlier than anticipated. Royal Caribbean did not give a reason why it decided to move the ship earlier, but its likely recent suspensions and restrictions by the authorities in Hong Kong had an impact.

We know that vacation time is precious and choosing how to spend it is more important than ever, which is why we are thrilled to welcomeSpectrum of the Seas one of the most advanced ships in the world, toSingaporein April makingSingaporethe cruising destination of choice, saidAngie Stephen, vice president and managing director,Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean International.

We have seen incredible demand for Royal Caribbean cruise holidays inSingapore. Having hosted more than 178,000Singaporeresidents since we restarted cruising, bringingSpectrumsix months early is truly exciting. The combination of experiences specially designed for the Asian market, together with signature Royal Caribbean favourites on board, will makeSpectruma huge hit.

Spectrum of the Seas started cruises to nowhere from Hong Kong in October 2021 with two to four-night Ocean Getaways. The cruises have been for fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents only, but despite protocols in place, the cruise line has been dealing with stringent procedures from the authorities.

The ship was recently forced to cancel all January 2022 departures from the city due to authorities temporarily banning cruises. Also, in early January, the Hong Kong Department of Health contacted the ship that someone who had tested positive for COVID ashore had close contacts that were onboard, resulting in more cancellations.

Royal Caribbean can now shift its focus to Singapore with fully vaccinated sailings. The cruise line also allows guests who book their Spectrum voyage on or before March 31, 2022, to take advantage of its Cruise with Confidence cancellation program. The program enables guests to cancel their cruise up to 48 hours before departure and receive a future cruise credit.

TheAsia-Pacificregion holds tremendous opportunity for the growth of the cruise industry. The last year provided manySingaporeresidents the opportunity to try cruising for the first time, and from what we can see, they are hooked. As we navigate COVID-19 as an endemic, we are confident that holidaymakers around the region will see cruising as an unbeatable adventure-packed holiday option, saidKenneth Yeo, regional director of sales,Asia-Pacific, Royal Caribbean International.

Spectrum of the Seas is 169,379 gross tons, making her one of the largest cruise ships operating in Asia. The Quantum-ultra class vessel has a guest capacity of 4,246 at double occupancy and 1,551 international crew members. The ship entered service in April 2019 and was purpose-built to serve the Asian cruise market.

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Royal Caribbean Cruise Ship to Reposition to Singapore Early - Cruise Hive

Turks and Caicos has announced an update to its entry protocols for travelers as of February 2022, Caribbean Journal has learned.

The destination is now requiring all visitors two years and older to show proof of a negative PCR or antigen before entry.

Tests need to be taken within three days of arrival in Turks and Caicos.

The update lowers the testing age requirement from 10 years old to two years old.

All visitors aged 16 and older must continue to provide proof of full vaccination before entering the country.

Turks and Caicos has additionally announce that weddings are limited to 50 percent of approved capacity, while all patrons 16 years of age and older must be fully vaccinated or present a negative test within 24 hours before entering restaurants, bars, nightclubs and discos.

Social gatherings require attendees 16 and up to be fully vaccinated or have proof of a negative test within 24 hours.

Any fully vaccinated visitor who tests positive prior to leaving theTurksandCaicosIslands will be required to quarantine with all accompanying persons at their own expense for 10 days,andthen undergo a mandatory COVID-19 test on day seven prior to release.

In a statement, Turks and Caicos said the changes represented a proactive response to the Omicron variantandunderscore the destinations commitment to healthandsafety, expanding on its already vigilant travel protocols, which have been in placefor travelers since July 22, 2020, whenTurksandCaicosopened its borders to tourists.

Around 80 percent of the local population in Turks and Caicos is fully vaccinated, making it one of the most inoculated countries in the world.

For more, visit Turks and Caicos.

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Turks and Caicos Just Updated Its Entry Rules for Travelers - Caribbean Journal

FOR ANYONE eager to thaw out this winter on a sun-drenched beach in the Caribbean, a word of caution: Brace yourself for sticker shock. Room rates at the luxury hotels have risen considerably since before the pandemic, nearly 25% in some cases, said Melissa Pugh, a Jet World Travel consultant who specializes in high-end Caribbean vacations. Covid was very expensive for a lot of hotels and still is, she explained, attributing the price hike, in part, to staffing shortages and enhanced cleaning and safety protocols. Yet, even the soaring costs arent enough to quell demand, and the regions most popular luxury resorts are rapidly booking up.

Luckily, thrifty sunseekers can still find reasonably affordable, attractive accommodations scattered throughout the Caribbean. Below, weve zeroed in on six favorites, from a 155-room resort in Belize to a four-bedroom villa in Tobago. They may not be as well-known as their competitors but theyre well locatedon or near the seaand uncrowded. As for the current Covid regulations, each country has its own set of requirements. Be sure to inquire with the hotel before booking about the most recent vaccination and testing policies in place and check the latest health information on the CDC website.

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Secrets Out: These Caribbean Resorts Are (Relatively) Affordable Finds - The Wall Street Journal

For decades, the island of Mustique located within Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a deeply desirable spot for a host of world-famous personalities. Princess Margaret was one of the islands most high-profile admirers, as was Mick Jagger, and its still a choice destination for some including Boris Johnson, whose travel plans there last year sparked a minor scandal.

In recent years, however, Mustiques star has dwindled somewhat compared to that of nearby Bequia, which has its own celebrity admirers including Bob Dylan. Whats behind this relative shift in popularity among idyllic VIP destinations?

In a new article for Air Mail, Mark Ellwood explored the recent histories of both islands to get a better understanding of their dynamic. The current and former residents Ellwood spoke about two substantial shifts in the general mood of the island an increased focus on establishing business relationships while there, and a more constrained vibe relative to the more freewheeling one of bygone years. (Hint: naked limbo dancers came up in one story about the island.)

This, in turn, led more people considering getting an island home to make way for Bequia rather than Mustique. Charter company founder Magnus Lewin told Air Mail, Its a cool, fun crowd here, and youre seeing a lot of houses being built that are quite eccentric. With all that in mind, its not hard to see the attraction.

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Inside the Shifting Fortunes of a Caribbean VIP Destination - InsideHook

By NAN STAFF WRITER

News Americas, NEW YORK, NY, Fri. Jan. 28, 2022: The annual list of most corrupt countries is out, and one Caribbean country scored its lowest score since 2012 while another significantly declined in the last 10 years.

The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index, (CPI), from Transparency International, released this week, says that Dominica scored its lowest score since the earliest comparable year of available data in 2012, as its corruption index fell to 55.

TI also says Saint Lucia significantly declined on the Index in the last 10 years, meaning it got more corrupt.

The Index is the most widely used global corruption ranking in the world. It measures how corrupt each countrys public sector is perceived to be, according to experts and businesspeople. The CPI ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public sector corruption on a scale of zero (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean). A countrys score is the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0-100, where 0 means highly corrupt and 100 means very clean.

A countrys rank is its position relative to the other countries in the index. Ranks can change merely if the number of countries included in the index changes.The rank is therefore not as important as the score in terms of indicating the level of corruption in that country.

Haiti scored 20 and remained the most corrupt nation in the Caribbean, according to the CPI. Jamaica at 44, has been struggling for several years. It has made some progress the establishment of the Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption Agency as an independent body, TI said, and the corruption cases recently pursued by the Auditor Generals Department are two examples but this comes alongside significant resistance to reforms from many politicians in the country.

TheDominican Republicscored 30 this year and leaves behind its lowest ratings obtained in 2019 and 2020. A stronger Public Prosecutors Office and Chamber of Accounts, along with theconviction and imprisonmentof powerful political figures, have helped to improve perceptions of corruption. However, public institutions remain fragile, the report said. The country needs to strengthen the transparency, integrity and accountability of these institutions to bring about meaningful change. Otherwise, any progress made will quickly be lost.

The only Caribbean country to improve its score was Guyana which scored 39 on the index.

Heres Where The Caribbean Ranks

Barbados 29 as it scored 69 out of 100

Bahamas 30 as it scored 64 out of 100

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 36 as it scored 59 out of 100

Saint Lucia 42 as it scored 56 out of 100

Dominica 45 as it scored 55 out of 100

Grenada 52 as it scored 53out of 100

Cuba 64 as it scored 46 out of 100

Jamaica 70, as it scored 44 out of 100.

Trinidad and Tobago 82 as it scored 41 out of 100.

Guyana 87 as it scored 39 out of 100

Suriname 87 as it scored 39 out of 100.

Dominican Republic 128 as it scored 30 out of a 100.

Haiti ranked 164 as it scored 20 out of 100.

The countries of the Americas are at a complete standstill in the fight against corruption. As corrupt leaders go after activists and consolidate power, the rights of the press, freedom of expression and freedom of association are under attack. Decisive action is needed to reverse this trend, protect civil society, and defend human rights and democracy, said Delia Ferreira Rubio, Chair of Transparency International.

The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) shows that corruption levels remain at a standstill worldwide, with 86 per cent of countries making little to no progress in the last 10 years. The data sources used to compile the CPI specifically cover the following manifestations of public sector corruption:

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The Most Corrupt Countries In The Caribbean? - Caribbean and Latin America Daily News - News Americas

PANAMA CITY, January 27, 2022 - The Government of Spain, through the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), has announced a contribution to UNICEF of 6.78 million euros to support humanitarian assistance and create new development opportunities for children and the most vulnerable adolescents in seven countries in Latin America and the Caribbean throughout 2022.

"Latin America and the Caribbean has been one of the regions in the world hardest hit by the pandemic and children in the region have had their social, educational, and emotional development disproportionately affected as a result," said Jean Gough, UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean. More boys and girls dropped out of school, fell into poverty and started working. Many indicators of childhood progress are regressing. The generous and timely contribution from Spain will be critical so that the advances in the living conditions of children that were achieved in previous decades are not lost because of the pandemic.

In recent years, Latin America and the Caribbean have been seriously affected by multiple crises, such as the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the increase in the flow of migrant and refugee families, the effects of climate change, various political-social crises and the different forms of violence present in the region. In this complex context, the needs of the most vulnerable children and adolescents in the region have increased drastically, as have those of their families.

Spain has a strong long-lasting relationship with Latin America and the Caribbean and this contribution is part of our firm commitment to increase our support to the region and assist crisis-affected countries to overcome humanitarian and development challenges. UNICEF is a strategic partner for AECID and through this collaboration we are scaling-up our partnership to address the needs of children, especially the most vulnerable said Antn Leis, AECID Director.

Thanks to the support from AECID, UNICEF and partners will work to:

Reduce the digital divide in education in the Dominican Republic, Honduras and Peru as part of AECIDs Educ@ Fund.

Improve living conditions for Venezuelan migrants and indigenous communities through community and institutional strengthening in Roraima, Brazil.

Increase protection services and support the integration of migrant children and adolescents in Colombia.

Restore educational services for vulnerable children affected by the 2021 earthquake in the southern departments of Haiti.

Facilitate a safe return to school for girls, boys and adolescents within the framework of the Early Recovery Fund in Honduras.

Support access to inclusive and quality education in a safe, healthy and protective environment in Venezuela.

In line with the principles found in the UN Funding Compact, AECID is also contributing flexible funds in line with UNICEFs global objectives. The fund are focused on social inclusion so that every child has an equal opportunity and so boys, girls and adolescents are protected from violence, exploitation and abuse.

Media contacts

Laurent DuvillierRegional Chief of CommunicationUNICEF Latin America and CaribbeanTel: + 507 3017393Tel: + 507 6169 9886Email: lduvillier@unicef.org

Alfonso Fernndez RecaRegional Communication SpecialistUNICEF Regional Office for Latin America and the CaribbeanTel: +507 69412277,Email: afernandezreca@unicef.org

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Spain donates EUR 6.78 million to UNICEF to help children in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2022 - Haiti - ReliefWeb

From the moment we book a trip, we start dreaming about the perfect vacation we are going to have. We imagine all the fun we are going to have, the things we will do and all the places we are going to see. While this may sound like a reasonable expectation, expecting the perfect vacation is a set up for disappointment. Last I checked, no one is perfect, so extremely high expectations can lead to disenchantment while on Enchantment of the Seas.

When I dream about my vacations, I dream about sun and sand, and my happy, smiling children who are eternally grateful for this wonderful experience that I have given them.

Instead sometimes the reality is my kids are fighting and throwing sand at each other, the ocean water is freezing cold, and it starts to rain.

Somewhere in there I realize I forgot to pack the sunscreen and my husband becomes hangry because we miss-read the hours of the Windjammer and got back to the ship too late.

It is times like this where I used to throw up my hands in despair and lament that this is NOT how my vacation should be! This is where I need to step back, take a few breaths and remember my kids fight like siblings at home as well. They will be best friends again by supper time.

Too much togetherness isnt good and sometimes they need a little time apart. This may be some alone time with each parent or a trip to the room for one and Adventure Ocean for the other.

When my husband is hangry Im eternally grateful for Sorrentos Pizza or the hot dog stand on Oasis and Quantum class ships. A slice of pizza or a hot dog can make a world of difference and we usually have some emergency cookies stashed in the room for just such occasions.

When I forget to pack something, I remind myself that beside my passport (and now vaccine cards), there isnt anything I need that cannot be replaced on the ship or port. The price may be higher for my forgetfulness, but it is not the end of the world. Sometimes this is something that I need to remind myself. We have never been turned away from the main dining room because my husband forgot to bring black dress shoes and dress socks again.

Thankfully my embarrassment is saved once his feet are tucked under the table cloth hiding his dress Keens sandals.

Traveling with extended family is not an exception to the perfect vacation. The way they behave at Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings is not going to magically change during a cruise. While cruises are a great way for multiple generations to vacation together; it can provide numerous opportunities for opinions on how children should be raised and behave.

It is so easy to forget when you watch the commercials of the happy and perfect looking people that vacations are still real life. When you see peoples vacation photos posted on social media, trust me when I say they likely only posted the good pictures where everyone is smiling and happy. They dont take pictures when someone is crying or an excursion gets cancelled.

Vacation can be a great time to work on table manners with kids; unfortunately I have seen adults who could use some remedial training. On one cruise several years ago there was an elderly woman in her late 70s who was seated at our table. She was impossible to please. We watched the crew do everything in their power to try to appease her and make her happy. It became a game to see how soon into the dinner service she would send something back to the kitchen.

She received mashed potatoes one evening and insisted on a baked potato after her plate arrived. When the crew brought it out, she gently touched it with one finger and announced that it was cold. She then turned her nose up and waved a dismissive hand telling them to take it away. When asked if she would like a different one, she tersely responded that it was too late and she didnt want anything anymore.

While there is nothing wrong with asking the waiter to fix an order, there is a way to do so with grace and compassion. Sometimes Ive left mistakes in place and didnt point them out. They ended up being happy accidents where I tried something new that I would not have otherwise done. These are times when I found something new on the menu that I liked. Also I have some empathy for the crew. The amount of meals that are going out in such a short order of time means that things will not always be perfect. Even with a 99.9% accuracy rate, on an Oasis class ship that would mean at least 5 dinners each night being messed up.

We have had excursions cancelled in the past due to bad weather. One instance was the waves were too high at Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman for my children. Royal Caribbean staff were wonderful in helping us find a substitute excursion on the spot at the Turtle Sanctuary and the Dolphin Encounter. This has been one of my (and my childrens) favorite excursions to date and it is not one that I would have picked. Speaking with people that elected to go to Sting Ray City despite the waves, said they had a disappointing experience as they were pushed around by the waves and the water was cloudy with poor visibility from all the sand stirred up.

I could have been disappointed and upset that I didnt get to go to Sting Ray City which was a main reason for picking this itinerary. On the other hand, I could be thrilled that we had this amazing excursion and have an excuse to come back to this port of call on another cruise, although I might have to convince my children to try an excursion other than the turtles. Sometimes the anticipation is just as satisfying as the actual experience.

Covid and the related changes have complicated cruising, with onboard shows, ports of call, or even entire cruises cancelled with little notice. Instead of complaining and asking Why did this happen to me?!? instead ask How is this happening FOR me?

Try to find any glimmer of good that can come out of this situation. It may take some work to come up with a silver lining for a missed cruise, but when you find it, it will feel much better to hold on to that instead of the disappointment and anger.

We had a cruise that was cancelled in 2020 and instead of being upset, we adjusted directions. We ended up taking a trip to Yellowstone and Utah to visit friends. It was amazing! We had another one that was cancelled in November 2021. However, we were able to use the future cruise credits from both of those trips in order to upgrade to a suite for our cruise this past December.

Just remember wonderful memories and great stories from any vacation rarely start with the phrase Everything went exactly as planned. Many of our most memorable stories and adventures are when things went wrong, we got lost, someone got seasick, or there was some other hardship at the time that we had to overcome. Our lives are made up of stories and the hero needs to overcome some adversity on their adventure.

Just picture yourself as the hero of your story and find a way to win the day with an amazing adventure. Heed the words attributed to Captain Jack Sparrow, who also spent time on a ship and faced many adventures that did not go as planned; The problem is not the problem. The problem is your attitude about the problem. What story do you want to tell when you get home? Make it an amazing one since you get to write it, problems and all.

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The myth of the "perfect" vacation - Royal Caribbean Blog

The weekend is the perfect time to take a short break, so why not go on a cruise too?

When people think of cruises, they tend to imagine a sailing thats seven days or longer. After all, if youre going to fly to a port for a vacation, you want to maximize your experience.

However, you can find plenty of weekend cruises available, and the majority of which sail from Florida ports. What makes them so appealing?

Weekend cruises out of Florida are Bahamian itineraries. You will find either Nassau or Grand Bahama island as a port stop.

Nearly every cruise will include a visit to Perfect Day at CocoCay. What you most likely wont find on a three day cruise is a day at sea.

One thing to be aware of is that weekend cruises tend to be on smaller ships. While its not unheard of for an Oasis class ship to have a shorter, specialty sailing, its much more common to find Vision, Radiance, Voyager and Freedom classes doing the weekend sailings. Thats actually a good thing.

You could spend seven days on an Oasis or Quantum class ship and still never see and do everything. Think of how hard that would be with only three days!

There is still plenty to see and do onboard. Most activities that you will find on the seven day sailings are also available on the weekend cruises. From trivia and scavenger hunts to rock climbing and miniature golf.

Some ships even have a Flowrider, water slides and a sky pad. Nightly entertainment includes headliner acts such as singers or comedians, dancing in the lounges and singers in the pub and the Schooner Bar.

If your ship happens to have an ice rink, you will be treated to an amazing ice show. You can also try skating yourself during select hours in the afternoon.

If youd rather stay indoors, you can always go to the casino. While it will be closed during the day when docked in Nassau or Grand Bahama island, it is open all day when youre docked in CocoCay. Typical opening hours that day are 8:00 a.m. for slots and noon for table games.

While these smaller ships wont have every specialty dining restaurant of their larger cousins, you will still have more choices than you could eat in three days.

Of course there is the complimentary options such as the Windjammer buffet, main dining room, pizza and ice cream at the pool. However, you can enjoy specialty dining too. Just about every ship has a Chops Grille and an Italian option, either Giovannis or Jaimes.

Other ships also offer Izumi (some with Hibachi) along with a Playmakers and/or Johnny Rockets. You will still have a dress your best night on a weekend sailing so its nice to have specialty dining options.

Those who live in Florida have the luxury of being able to drive to your nearest port. Taking a weekend cruise means being able to go for a quick getaway without having to burn a lot of vacation time, if any.

Weekend cruises are perfect for that special celebration. Youll always see a birthday or anniversary being acknowledged in the restaurants. These sailings have also become very popular with bachelor/bachelorette parties.

Its a great way to have a mini vacation to celebrate with your friends.

Quick getaways and minimal time off of work is great for the locals, but why would someone want to travel a great distance for just a weekend cruise?

You could add it on to a land trip you may already have planned. Lets say, for example, youre coming to Orlando to visit the theme parks. You can easily add on a short sailing before or after your trip to relax or recharge after all that running around and waiting in lines.

You really cant beat the prices. Three day sailings on the Freedom of the Seas out of Miami are currently starting at $151 per person. Even if you could find a resort on the beach for that price, there is no way its going to include food, entertainment and transportation.

We do weekend cruises quite often, even referring to the ship as our weekend condo. We tend to see the same people regularly, not just the crew but fellow passengers as well! Its like one big extended family of cruisers.

Seven day or more cruises are the perfect vacation but dont overlook the weekend sailings when you want a quick get away to the beaches of CocoCay and to enjoy those amazing sunsets at sea.

Planning a short cruise? Check out these helpful articles:

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Why taking a weekend cruise is a great escape - Royal Caribbean Blog

Some had come for the beach, some had come for the sun, others had picked it because, at the time, the Covid numbers seemed reasonable. Many had chosen it over resort destinations because getting there seemed easy. Still others liked the idea of not having to take a test to enter the country.

Together, they made up around 25 of the mostly American, Canadian and British guests enjoying the Preferred Club adults-only pool at Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana on a recent weekend, even as Omicron drove coronavirus cases to record highs in the Dominican Republic.

The pool, which is roughly 10 lounge chairs wide, offered a peaceful retreat from the boisterous main pool, which snakes out from the buffet to the sandy stretch of coastline the resort shares with around 90 other all-inclusives.

In the Preferred area, a teacher from Chicago quietly read a book as new resort friends from Michigan and Ontario chatted about whether the woman hanging out on her rooms private terrace about three lounge chairs away, was quarantining. They were pretty certain she was, given that she had not left her room for days. This was a bummer. So, too, was the fact that at least three other Preferred guests had tested positive since theyd arrived.

Still, everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

They, along with all the other visitors who filled the majority of Punta Canas roughly 42,000 hotel rooms that January weekend, were part of what many consider a rare pandemic tourism success story. In December the Dominican Republic drew 700,000 visitors from abroad, more than it had attracted not only before the pandemic, but in any single month ever, according to the Ministry of Tourism. That pushed 2021 totals to nearly five million visitors, more than any other country in the Caribbean. In December, some financial analysts calculated that the country was having its best year economically in 30 years.

And Punta Cana isnt the only getaway thats booming in the Dominican Republic. Las Terrenas, a small seaside town that tends to attract a crowd that despises all-inclusives, has exploded in popularity during the pandemic.

The Dominican Republics visitor figures have to do, in part, with its unconventional strategy for gaining a competitive advantage. Unlike most Caribbean beach destinations, the country doesnt require proof of vaccination, a Covid test or quarantine for most incoming travelers. Instead, authorities have chosen to manage Covid by pushing vaccination and mask wearing among those who interact with tourists. Nearly 100 percent of the 174,000 people who work in the tourism sector are vaccinated, according to the Ministry of Tourism. And though all-inclusive resorts require only a reservation to enter, many banks, government institutions and some shopping malls require proof of vaccination or a recent P.C.R. test.

We knew it was a risk and we wanted to take it, Jacqueline Mora, the deputy minister of tourism, said in a recent phone interview. The strategy has worked, she added, noting that the country estimates that it earned around $5.7 billion from tourism last year while maintaining a Covid death rate lower not only than Mexico, the other major beach destination to take a similarly lax approach to entry, but also many far more restrictive countries, including the United States.

Until recently, few pushed back. But as Omicron has driven Covid rates up by several hundred percent in the Dominican Republic (now categorized as Level 4, or very high risk, on the C.D.C.s rating system), infecting many vaccinated people, long-simmering resentments about letting tourists get away with so much have surfaced among some doctors, politicians and resort employees.

In early January, more than a dozen lawmakers endorsed a proposal, supported by the president of the Colegio Mdico, the Dominican Republics largest association of doctors, urging President Luis Abinader to require recent tests and proof of vaccination from visitors. The resolution calls the current policy discriminatory, given that Dominican residents have to carry a vaccination card or recent negative P.C.R. test, while visitors dont face the same requirements to enter Dominican territory. On Jan. 31, the government is requiring banks, shopping centers, restaurants and other public transport to ask for proof that customers have been boosted. Airports and all-inclusive resorts will not be affected.

Australia had been their first pick, but the borders there were still closed to visitors, said Michael Rogers, 28, an event planner from London, who was celebrating a belated honeymoon in Punta Cana.

Were the guinea pigs for our family. If we dont get it, he said, referring to Omicron, theyll all go on holidays.

Behind him, people were checking into Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana. In 2021, nearly half of the foreign tourists who went to the Dominican Republic stayed in Punta Cana, at places like Dreams or the Iberostar Grand Bvaro on popular Playa Bvaro. Each one of the areas 90 or so all-inclusive resorts is a bit different: Some are fratty party hubs, others are minimalist wonders. Some serve stale rolls. Some serve towers of fresh ceviche. Some cater to Americans, who made up nearly 60 percent of all visitors to the Dominican Republic last year. Others court Europeans, Latin Americans and Canadians who made up most of the other 40 percent.

The 500-room Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana falls somewhere in the middle in terms of price and Tripadvisor ratings. On a recent Friday, staff members scanned visitors temperatures upon arrival and offered spritzes of hand sanitizer along with a glass of champagne. By check-in, many guests were no longer wearing their plane masks, but it was nearly impossible to find a staff member who was letting their nose peek out. This was the first hint that guests and employees follow different rules.

This generally works for the guests.

Weve been dealing with it for two years straight and sometimes you just want to throw in the towel and live a little, said Cara McQueeney, 27, a mental health worker from Concord, N.H., as she and her boyfriend awaited their final beachside dinner. She was not trying to be careless; shed been avoiding buffets. But she was glad that she didnt have to wear a mask.

Dealing with Covid feels more reasonable in the Dominican Republic, said Gaelle Berthault, 45, later that weekend. She, her husband and 9-year-old son had moved to Santo Domingo from Brittany early in the pandemic because they were so fed up with the restrictions they faced at the time in France, she said while sitting on the porch of a turquoise cabana in Las Terrenas on the countrys northern coast. She resented having to carry a government-issued permission slip on her walks, which she had to limit to one a day.

It felt like war time, she said.

Since she found a new job in Santo Domingo, she feels freer. On the weekends, her family explores coastal towns like Las Terrenas, where her son might spend the morning splashing in the pool of a boutique hotel before venturing to a beach. In Santo Domingo, public buses sometimes require proof of vaccination, but she has never taken one.

The arrival of the virus had come at a terrible time for the Dominican Republics tourism industry. In March 2020, when the World Health Organization upgraded the epidemic to a pandemic, the country had just recovered from a different crisis. In 2019, 10 American tourists had died there, several mysteriously passing away in their sleep. Ultimately, the F.B.I. deemed that the incidents werent connected, but it was not good publicity. Visitor numbers fell by 9 percent, according to Ms. Mora. And then, just as they bounced back, the pandemic shuttered its borders.

For the 174,000 people who work directly in the tourism sector it was a challenging time. Though the government gave them money, a number of workers, including a maid, butler, server and concierge, calculated that they took home one quarter to one half of what they normally made.

When the country opened back up to tourists in July 2020, authorities briefly required visitors to show the results of a recent test. Then in August, President Abinader, who has a long history in the tourism industry, took office. The strategy began to revolve around making entry as easy as possible. Through last April, the country offered to cover the costs of medical care, lodging and flight changes, should guests fall sick with Covid. The airport did continue testing some visitors randomly, a policy that continues, according to the Ministry of Tourism.

To this day, most other Caribbean nations require proof of vaccination, test results and, in some cases, quarantine, and they also may restrict hotel bookings to 30 or 50 percent capacity to mitigate viral spread, according to Michael Lowery, the executive vice president of consumer business for Apple Leisure Group, which owns Dreams resorts and CheapCaribbean.com, a vacation booking platform used by millions. He said that the Dominican Republic has been one of the two most popular destinations for his company during the pandemic behind Mexico because travelers dont want to deal with restrictions and because resorts fill up their rooms, keeping prices reasonable.

Theyve done a good job of keeping their borders open and allowing 100 percent occupancy in all the resorts, he said.

Large groups, even bigger than before, began to flock to the Dominican Republic, said TJ Murray, the owner of Punta Cana Tours, a booking site.

Couples who might not have considered the Dominican Republic previously for a destination wedding began to see it as a sure thing for guests traveling from across the world, said Jennifer Collado, the owner of a wedding and events agency based in Punta Cana.

By August 2021, about a year after the Dominican Republic reopened to tourism, you might have noticed something intriguing if you happened to be looking at Kayak.coms flight trends. For more than a month, destinations in just one country consistently displayed green, meaning they had generated more search interest than they had two years earlier: the Dominican Republic.

September, November and December were good months for the country. Tourism numbers surpassed prepandemic levels, and coronavirus case counts stayed low, typically hovering between 100 and 300 daily. But then Omicron hit. On Jan. 12, a record 7,439 people tested positive in the Dominican Republic, far more than any other day during the pandemic. On Dec. 29, the country also reported eight Covid-related deaths, more than it had seen in a single day in months.

The hospitals are full; children, old people, everyone, sick with Covid, said Dr. Senn Caba, the president of the Colegio Mdico.

He blamed the governments lax entry policy for the suffering. Though people who work in the tourism sector may be largely young, healthy and vaccinated, they can still transmit the virus to family members and others. (Only 54 percent of the population overall is fully vaccinated.)

According to the tourism ministry the spike is not a reason to adjust the countrys approach.

Omicron is everywhere, and testing requirements offer countries little more than the illusion of security, Ms. Mora said. Willie Walsh, the director general of the International Air Transport Association, a trade organization representing nearly 300 airlines, echoed this argument in a recent statement.

Asked if interacting with potentially contagious visitors all day made him nervous, Maiken Mercedes, a server at Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana, said, What gives me fear is not the virus, its not making money for my family. Other employees in the hospitality industry also expressed concerns that more restrictions would mean fewer guests.

But there has to be a way to encourage responsible tourism, said Ivan Lorenzo, a senator for the Dominican province of Elas Pia, which shares a border with Haiti.

We cannot rationalize the human losses with what we generate economically, he said.

Neither he nor several hospitality workers interviewed were convinced that requiring tests would derail the countrys growth. In fact, some found the suggestion that the lax policy is whats drawing people to the Dominican Republic insulting.

No matter how much they try not to think about the coronavirus, at the end of the day, visitors have to think about it because the United States, Canada and many other countries require a test to re-enter.

For Kelly Lynn Gasper, 57, a behavioral health nurse from Oakley, Mich., the possibility was particularly nerve-wracking because early in her one-week visit with her 18-year-old daughter to Punta Cana, shed started to feel like she was coming down with something. She took two rapid tests shed brought and tested positive twice, she said.

Ms. Gasper was conflicted about how to proceed, but ultimately opted not to spend her whole vacation in her room, instead upping her mask wearing and avoiding indoor spaces. As her daughter, Caitlyn Gasper, whod already had Omicron back home, pointed out, other people were probably positive around her, but didnt know it, so why should she be penalized for testing positive?

Much to her relief, Ms. Gasper tested negative that morning at the resort clinic. The results had come so fast within a couple of minutes, instead of the 15 that is more typical she had wondered about their accuracy.

Kris Milavec, 59, of Concord Township, Ohio, did not share Ms. Gaspers skepticism, because earlier that day her husband and one other member of her group of nearly 20 had quickly tested positive and were now stuck in their rooms.

As to whether it was worth it, given that her husband, an anesthesiologist who was expected back at the hospital, was apparently stuck abroad, Ms. Milavec paused.

I dont think it was worth it, she said as the rest of the group posed for poolside photos in their matching white outfits.

Enzo Conte, the owner of a software company in Quebec, would also prefer not to get Omicron. But if hes going to get it, he said, it might as well be while hes staying at a beachside villa in the Dominican Republic. Since early December, he has been alternately vacationing and working remotely from Las Terrenas.

Should he test positive, he said, Ill just stay a little longer.

Hogla Enecia Prezcontributed research from Santo Domingo.

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Why Is Everyone Going to the Dominican Republic? - The New York Times