Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ UK tour operator has reported a sales surge after a string of Caribbean countries were added to the green list of destinations open to travellers from England.
More than half of Unique Caribbean Holidays’ (UCHL) bookings in the period between June 29 and July 6 were for “last minute July and August 2021 holidays to green list destinations”, managing director Karl Thompson said.
Sandals Grande Antigua and Sandals Royal Barbados hotels were among the “best performing” sites and both Caribbean islands – Antigua and Barbados – were added to the green list on June 24.
According to Thompson, the volume of bookings made between June 29 and July 6 was “double” the number taken between June 8 and 15 four weeks ago.
He said: “Before the government’s latest green list announcement on June 24, we were getting next to no business for 2021 departures.
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“In fact, the week before the announcement 84% of all bookings made through our tour operator, UCHL, were for trips departing in 2022 and 2023.
“Over half of our total business between June 29 and July 6 however is for last minute July and August 2021 holidays to green list destinations suggesting that people are desperate to get away as quickly as possible.
“The overall volume of bookings made between June 29 and July 6 is double what we were seeing four weeks ago which shows that the business is there when travel advice becomes more favourable.”
He added: “We’re hopeful that the expected announcement this week about fully-vaccinated travellers not quarantining after their holiday to amber list countries will have a positive effect on bookings to other destinations such as St Lucia and Jamaica which is where we have the most resorts.”
Guests staying at Sandals Resorts International receive free Covid-19 tests in resort required by local governments in the region.
Twenty-seven countries and British overseas territories are on the green list. Both St Lucia and Jamaica are currently on the amber list.
Currently, UK arrivals from amber list countries must isolate at home for up to 10 days and take two PCR tests.