Musings on Bonaire reopening to tourists

[ChrisL]

I miss this conversation thread. Back in August I was thinking about getting to Bonaire via Aruba but that option was cancelled (I dreaded 2 weeks in Aruba anyway). My VRBO renters have all cancelled through the rest of this year - all are getting refunds except one who rescheduled. I paid my Bonaire property taxes in September. Now that COVID is prevalent on Bonaire, will the government shut down Netherlands visitors or allow North American visitors. A recent poll of Bonaire residents was split down the middle on these subjects. I’m back and forth in NJ, NY, VT & ME. I’ve been symptom free since February and have tested negative for COVID & COVID antibodies - I wear a mask and keep social distance. I’m open to testing and even some home confinement on Bonaire, but I so so so want to come back. I’ve read nothing in the BES news blog about any lifting of restrictions, only how the BES leaders are begging for money from the Netherlands. Even a rumor of reopening would be relief for me. I miss Bonaire.

[tkaelin]

Just yesterday CUR announced that it was putting three US States on the med risk list, NY, NJ and CT, which means in theory the door has opened a bit for US travel. Not sure any US airline will schedule flights based upon this limited recognition. It is movement though. Our May/June '20 trip to Bon was moved to Nov '20 and now to May/June '21. Hope we don't have to reschedule again. Bon's limited opening to Europe has met with mixed success from what I am reading and BON is now limiting which European countries can come in through the Netherlands.

[Earl]

Does anyone have any up to date info on reopening from the US?

[SkyQueen]

All I know is our AA flight on Dec 21st has been cancelled. We have requested a refund for the flight. The request is pending review. This is the first time in 23 years that we will not be able to spend Xmas with our Bonaire “family”. Heartbroken.

[MelE]

There is an article about reopening to the US in BES from two days ago that is interesting. The Bonaire Hotel and Tourism Association is really pushing for it. There’s no mention of any real plans though.

https://bes-reporter.com/index.php/2...sm-imperative/

[KonaGecko]

Still seems unlikely this year.
Almost daily updates here.
https://bonaire.nu/
Hi SkyQueen, Concerning AA December flights, they still show open seats on DEC 19 and 23rd MIA-BON. Didn't know they even had a Monday flight.
Fingers crossed...............

[SkyQueen]

KonaGecko - Yep AA had Monday flights when we booked back in Feb. At this point, it's sad that we aren't going but yet I'm glad that the angst of the unknown is over. Yes, we could change dates for the flights. I think the resort could accommodate us. With higher non-refundable deposits to kick in yet this month, I'm not willing to risk it. Hopefully we will be able to get wet in 2021.

[michaeto]

Rijna annouced today that Bonaire is moving to reopen to Curacao and the US. No flights are yet approved but depending on how things go it looks like mid-November is the target.

[susan]

There's a bit more information. Here's a link to the Lt. Governor's speech from yesterday afternoon: https://www.infobonaire.com/bonaire-...ed-re-opening/

[smits]

Kralendijk - For the thirteenth day in a row, no new corona infection was detected yesterday. The number of active cases on Bonaire fell from five to four. Reason for Island Governor Edison Rijna to announce during a press conference yesterday afternoon that the measures could be further relaxed.

“I am glad that we followed the rules together. We can now adjust those rules step by step. Do not change everything at once, but check after each step how things are going and whether a next step is possible, ”says Rijna.

Last Tuesday, the Island Governor submitted a request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to revert to code yellow and the RIVM is currently investigating whether this is possible. A return from code orange to code yellow means that tourists from the Netherlands can go on holiday to Bonaire again without having to be quarantined for ten days when they return to the Netherlands.

The requirements that are set remain the same. Someone who comes to Bonaire with KLM or TUI must be able to show a negative result of a PCR test that is not older than 72 hours. If someone is unable to do that, this person must be quarantined for fourteen days.

From Monday, October 26 it will be possible to fly from Curaçao to Bonaire again. The aforementioned rules that apply to flights from the Netherlands also apply to passengers from Curaçao. Saba and Sint Eustatius join Bonaire in an 'air bubble', allowing free travel between these three islands.

In the new emergency ordinance, which takes effect on October 26 and lasts until November 15, the airspace of Bonaire remains closed to flights from other countries, such as the United States (US). In mid-November, according to Rijna, it will be reviewed whether direct flights from the United States are possible. From next Monday, tourists from the US, Canada, Aruba and Sint Maarten can fly to Bonaire via Curaçao. Therefore, they must submit a negative PCR test.

The gyms and casinos may reopen from Monday, October 26, provided they adhere to the set conditions. For the time being, nothing will change in the opening hours of the catering industry. During the press conference, R nearly insisted on working from home as much as possible in the coming weeks.