Year’ during this year’s 14th annual Seatrade Cruise Awards, the cruise industry’s most distinguished award program. The island was recognized for the diverse experiences it offers from morning until night, along with the inimitable hospitality shown to the cruise industry following the outbreak of COVID-19. The award was presented during this year’s first-ever virtual conference, which featured industry leaders.

CHUKKA EXPANDS TO BARBADOS CHUKKA Caribbean Adventures has expanded throughout the Caribbean to include Barbados. Chukka was chosen to manage the day-to-day operations of Harrison’s Cave by the Caves of Barbados Ltd. “Harrison’s Cave is truly a Jewel of the Caribbean, and we’re honored to have been chosen as the development partner for this marquee nature adventure attraction,” said CEO Marc Melville. The company now operates in Jamaica, Belize, Turks & Caicos, the Dominican Republic and Barbados.

CAYMAN ISLANDS TARGETS REMOTE WORKERS The Cayman Islands launched the Global Citizen Concierge Program on Oct. 21 to attract persons who have the flexibility to work remotely now seeking a ‘home office in paradise’. Across the globe, many employers have adopted flexible work policies, allowing employees to work wherever they can be productive. With world-class infrastructure and first-rate amenities, the

Cayman Islands is the ideal destination for digital nomads. Visit the Global Citizen Concierge Program page to learn more.

RECONNECT WITH PARADISE IN THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS The U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas and Water Island) is open and welcoming travelers to reconnect with its history, culture and craftsmanship. With strict health and safety protocols in place, visitors are invited to explore its vibrant culture, delectable cuisine, storied past and beautiful people. Travelers can start their experience at www.usviupdate.com.

RESPONSIBLE RECOVERY OF TOURISM IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC The Minister of Tourism David Collado has supervised the application of safety and health measures as part of the Tourism Recovery Plan in the different destinations of the country, fully trusting in the recovery of the sector in the remainder of the year as a result of the increase in reservations in hotels and flights starting in October, through the different airport terminals in the country.

ARUBA HEALTH & HAPPINESS CODE As people try to find balance in the “new normal,” one thing is certain: everyone deserves some happiness. The One Happy Island of Aruba has been safely welcoming visitors for months, in part due to the ‘Aruba Health & Happiness Code,’ a stringent cleaning and hygiene certification program that ensures the highest safety standards and procedures across the island. BAHAMAS READY TO WELCOME BACK VISITORS Last year, The Bahamas saw a record-breaking year for visitor arrivals, which included 5.4 million visitors arriving by cruise. Our new testing protocols will allow visitors to enjoy our beautiful islands without needing to quarantine – which is specifically important for those visiting via cruise ships. Our focus for moving forward is to protect the health and safety of all residents and visitors in The Bahamas, whether they arrive by air or by sea.

THE WAIT IS OVER, BELIZE IS OPEN! Belize reopened for international leisure travel on Oct. 1. All visitors are required to have a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country. Restrictions have been lifted and visitors can explore freely, but must stay at Gold Standard Certified hotels; usage of Gold Standard tour operators, tourism sites, restaurants, gift shops, certified transport is highly recommended. Wearing of face masks and social distancing is required while in public. FOURTH QUARTER 2020 | TRAVEL & CRUISE 37