Cuba will introduce new rules for the entry of tourists, according to the portal of the Association of Tour Operators .
The Cuban authorities intend to introduce a new protocol on the entry of foreign tourists. Recall that now all foreigners (Russians and Canadians) arriving at the Cayo Coco resort take a PCR test upon arrival. Foreigners who arrive in Havana also take a PCR test upon arrival + 5-day quarantine at the place of stay.
From January 2021, the conditions for the entry of foreign citizens into Cuba will change. Foreigners will be required to have a negative PCR test done at least 72 hours before departure. In this case, the mandatory PCR test on arrival, which is done at the airport, will also remain in force. Thus, in the future, tourists will have two PCR tests: the first - before departure to Cuba (no more than 72 hours), the second - upon arrival at the airport (result in 24 hours).
According to the sources of Vestnik ATOR, the principal decision on the requirement of PCR tests for arriving from abroad was made by the Cuban authorities. This is forced by the difficult epidemiological situation in the world, and the increase in the number of foreign tourists, who are one of the main sources of foreign exchange in the country.
According to preliminary data, the launch of a new protocol on entry to Cuba is scheduled for January 1, 2021. Corresponding official documents of the Cuban departments are already "quoted" in social networks and agency groups.
However, representatives of Cuban tourism emphasize that at the moment there are no official documents regulating the new protocol. In particular, because there is a discussion of special conditions for the Russian market, which dominates the Cayo Coco resort. In the hotels of this resort, from 60% to 80% of the guests are Russians.
Since there are less than 10 days left before January, Russian tour operators have little time to warn tourists who have already purchased or intend to book tours to Cuba for the New Year holidays about the need to undergo a PCR test.
In addition, the introduction of new conditions of entry to Cuba falls on the New Year period, which also complicates the task of tourists, especially in the regions, on timely delivery of the PCR test and obtaining its results.
In this regard, the Cuban authorities are discussing the possibility of postponing the implementation of the protocol for the Russian market to a later date, for example, after the end of the New Year holidays.
In any case, the Embassy of Cuba in Moscow will notify tour operators and travel agents with an appropriate note about all changes in the conditions of entry to Cuba for Russian citizens. The Cuban diplomatic mission calls on to wait for official information on the terms and provisions of the updated protocol.
HomesOverseas.ru
