The Turks and Caicos Islands released updated travel requirements which went into effect on July 28 2021. These updates, which are available on the Turks and Caicos Tourist Board website, govern the islands’ pre-travel programme and portal – TCI Assured. Under the programme, all visitors must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of travel. TCI Assured has been in place since July 2020 and has achieved success in educating travellers. The portal shares updated travel requirements and is a recommended travel resource for all guests.
New Travel Requirements
Travellers to the Turks and Caicos Islands can only take professionally administered tests. Accepted tests include the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction Tests (RT-PCR); Nucleic Acid Amplification tests (NAA); RNA or molecular tests; and Antigen tests. Tests must be conducted by medical laboratories that are either accredited by the College of American Pathologists (CAP); registered by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA); or possess ISO 15189 certification.
In addition, travellers must have travel insurance or medical insurance. In the portal, they must complete the health screening questionnaire, certify that they have read and agree to the privacy policy. These documents must be uploaded to TCI Assured prior to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Although these travel requirements are stringent, they are a consistent approach to international and Caribbean travel protocols for both vaccinated and non-vaccinated travellers. The aim is to ensure that everyone on the island remains safe and healthy, especially because the world continues to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Booking.comMinister of Tourism in the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Honorable Josephine Connolly, is proud of the progress made so far. She says that by regularly updating the islands’ travel requirements, they are ensuring ongoing vigilance. Additionally, she is “confident in the overall wellbeing of [our] communities and visitors.”
Source: Caribbean Tourism Authority
