Following the announcement that it would reopen its borders to international travelers on July 12, following a very focused, phased effort to eliminate the presence of Covid-19, the government of Barbados is mulling a very unique and clever idea for jumpstarting the economy. With so many people working from home during quarantines and even after some countries reopened, officials in this beautiful Caribbean nation figured, why not invite people to come work from here?
“We came up with a concept and it is being refined now as ’12-Month Barbados Welcome Stamp’,” Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley recently explained at the reopening of a local restaurant. “This will allow people from the United States, Europe and Latin America to come and do their jobs digitally for a couple of months and then go back home, if they feel they can work better in a more relaxed atmosphere such as next to a beach.”
Gee, twist our arms.
All the while, tourism officials in Barbados are using the pandemic to not only make the island safer and healthier for locals and visitors alike, but also to make general improvements that will propel this destination to the center of the Caribbean spotlight. This includes an intense focus on the St. Lawrence Gap, which local leaders believe should be as fun and exciting as it is easy on the eyes.
Of course, any travelers already packing their bags should remember to bring plenty of masks. The island’s strict health and safety protocols still require Covid PCR testing within one week of departure, and that window narrows to 72-hours if the person lives in a high-risk country. Masks are also required in public areas, among other rules and regulations.
