TORONTO — Starting Nov. 7 Saint Lucia will welcome back Canadian visitors, thanks to departures with Air Canada Vacations.

The first flight back to Saint Lucia from Canada will depart from Toronto after nearly eight months of no air service following the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Air Canada will resume its direct nonstop service from Toronto to Saint Lucia with 1x weekly flights every Saturday. Starting in December the frequency will ramp up to 3x weekly.

Saint Lucia officially reopened its borders to international travellers on June 4, 2020 as part of Phase One of the country’s responsible reopening plan. Since that date the island has safely welcomed over 16,000 international guests from the UK and the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has reduced Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 rating to the lowest – Level 1, as one of only eight countries globally.

To visit Saint Lucia, Canadian visitors are required to obtain a negative PCR (Polymerized Chain Reaction) test within seven days prior to travel. To ensure a seamless airport experience, all visitors and returning nationals must complete a Pre-Arrival registration form prior to departure, which can be found on www.stlucia.org. The page features a checklist overview of mandatory requirements to ensure that visitors are not denied entry upon arrival.

Phase One of Saint Lucia’s responsible reopening plan includes heightened airport screening protocols, with temperature checks upon arrival and mandatory testing of any symptomatic passengers. Additionally, anyone exhibiting signs and symptoms will be subject to immediate isolation and testing, with possible quarantine or treatment should a passenger test positive, at their own cost.

Passengers arriving with proof of a negative PCR test are exempt from on-island testing (unless symptomatic) and may advance through immigration, baggage claim, customs, and arrivals for transportation to their COVID-19 certified hotel.

Saint Lucia’s government has developed COVID-19 certification guidelines for all hotels with specific criteria, including a fully equipped nurses station at each property, luggage sanitization upon check in, strict sanitation protocols for housekeeping, and social distancing measures in place.

Says Saint Lucia’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dominic Fedee: “Direct service from Toronto plays a vital role in Saint Lucia’s tourism recovery efforts. Canada is our third largest source market for international travel, we would like to thank our Canadian tourism partners, stakeholders and future visitors for their patience and continued support.”

“Saint Lucia has taken extensive safety measures to protect its people and visitors to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Canadians can travel with confidence knowing Saint Lucia is a safe destination, we are excited to welcome you back,” added Fedee.

More information about Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 response, including live updates about safety protocols and what travellers can expect as the phased reopening continues, can be found at www.stlucia.org/covid-19.