Covid-19: Cuba plans to reopen to tourists on November 15

Cuba hopes to see tourists return in November despite the health situation.

AFP

Text by: RFI Follow

2 min

While the country has seen a sharp upsurge in Covid-19 cases in recent months and an ever deepening economic crisis, Cuba is already announcing its reopening to foreign travelers for two months.

The island, whose economy depends mainly on tourism, is betting on this sector to revive itself and especially on a very imminent improvement in the health situation.

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This appeal from the foot was published by the Cuban Ministry of Tourism: the island will gradually reopen its borders on November 15.

The country's authorities will no longer require a PCR test or a week of quarantine on arrival of travelers within two months.

The surveillance of tourists for Covid-19 will be random.

While the country is short of currency and tourism has almost stopped since April 2020, Cuba sorely needs this return of tourists for its economic survival.

The crisis is causing food shortages and difficulties in the fight against the coronavirus.

Relaunching the tourism sector is therefore a priority.

Objective: 90% vaccinated

When the island decided for the first time to reopen its borders, in October 2020, it had paid dearly, with a sharp increase in cases from December. This time, this reopening date was announced with the assurance of having vaccinated 90% of the Cuban population by then. For now, only 35% of Cubans have the three doses of Abdala or Soberana, the two vaccines developed on the island and approved only by Cuban health authorities. But whose effectiveness has been recalled on occasion. On Friday, the country launched a

vaccination campaign targeting 2 to 18 year olds

.

Since July, the coronavirus crisis, so far well under control, has shaken the Cuban health system.

Within two months, the country will have not only to vaccinate, but also to treat, relieve the congestion of hospitals and mortuaries and undoubtedly to remake an image of safe destination for tourism. 

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  • Cuba

  • Coronavirus

  • Tourism

  • Vaccines