The Dominican Republic will request a test to travelers from Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa

The Dominican government has resolved to advance in a measure to control the entry of new strains of COVID-19 into its territory in the face of the advance of the third wave of infections that has already forced the establishment of generalized curfews until June 9 (affecting circulation in the street but does not restrict activities within the resorts).

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The Civil Aviation Board (JAC for its initals in Spanish) issued a resolution over the weekend through which it implements as an entry requirement for passengers from Brazil, the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) and South Africa the presentation of a negative PCR or antigen test for COVID-19.

It must be done within 72 hours prior to arrival in the Dominican Republic, and applies both for those who come on direct flights from those countries and for those who do so connecting in a third country.

In the case of the United Kingdom, the measure will be in force in principle until June 3 inclusive, while for Brazil and South Africa, until June 29.

“We have issued this resolution, within the framework of the new measures adopted by the Dominican government, to control the evolution of the pandemic in our territory. For this, we have consulted the Health Cabinet and the different institutions that converge in the Dominican civil aviation and tourism sector,” said José E. Marte Piantini, President of the JAC.

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With flexible border entry schemes, the Dominican Republic is one of the countries that has lead the recovery of tourism in Latin America and the Caribbean. Those who arrive should not quarantine or present tests (except now in the case of Brazil, the United Kingdom and South Africa). At airports and ports, a rapid and random breath test is performed on between 3% and 15% of passengers and all those with symptoms, exempting children under five years of age and crew members.

The country also offers a free medical coverage plan to all international tourists arriving on commercial flights and staying in a hotel, which covers expenses related to COVID-19 while they are in the country such as medical care, medical transfers, transfers of a relative, exemption from penalty for changes in tickets and lodging for long stays, among other benefits.

The only current requirement to enter is to previously complete an e-ticket that combines the forms of the International Boarding and Disembarkation Card, the Declaration of Customs and the Affidavit of Health of the Traveler.

According to data from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic, between 2010 and 2019 tourism accounted for 8.4% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, and tourism revenues accounted for 36.4% of exports of goods and services in 2019.

In the last decade, the country received direct foreign investments related to this activity for USD 4.9 billion, equivalent to 19.4% of the total between 2010 and 2019 (reaching a peak of 29.3% in the last year).