French St. Martin Has Closed its Border with Dutch Side of Island
French St. Martin has closed the border with its Dutch neighbor in a dispute over Covid-19 restrictions and Americans.
I was only going to be on the island of St. Martin for a few hours. In 2003, I’d flown in from the United States and was really just a transit passenger through Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM). But there were two things I wanted to do: see the best beach for aviation geeks, and check French St. Martin off my list of the places I’ve been.
The Lay of the Land
St. Martin is a small Caribbean island that’s split between two countries. The south side of the island is Dutch, a self-governing country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The north side of the island is part of France and a member of the European Union.
The French and Dutch sides of Saint Martin share an open border that’s crisscrossed by several roads. When I passed through the border, the most remarkable thing was just how unremarkable it was. I continued on to the cute little seaside town of Marigot and had lunch before returning to the airport for my connecting flight. It was all very easy!
A Disagreement over Americans
Fast forward to 2020 and a global pandemic. Officials on both sides agreed to temporarily lock down the island in March, as part of a broader stay at home order. But restrictions were lifted on June 2nd and things were relatively back to normal.
But then, Dutch Sint Maarten re-opened to foreign tourists on July 1st. Their plan would allow tourist visits with proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test taken in the 72 hours prior to arrival. This decision didn’t sit well with authorities on the French side, primarily because it allowed American tourists to return to the island. Dutch authorities continued with their plans, but agreed they would not allow direct flights from the U.S. until August 1st.
The day before, on July 31st, French St. Martin closed its borders once again. But this time, to keep American tourists out. The reasoning goes like this. Authorities on the French side want U.S. visitors to quarantine first and then get a Covid-19 PCR test after 7 days on the island. Dutch Sint Maarten wants tourists to return safely, but any 7-day quarantine would be a deal breaker for most visitors. Thus, the two sides are at an impasse.
Who Can Visit French St. Martin
French St. Martin’s new regulations permit visitors from the European Union and Schengen Area, the French Antilles, and from countries on the E.U.’s “safe list.” Visitors arriving at the border of French St. Martin will need to show their plane ticket, a negative Covid-19 PCR test result (taken within 72 hours), and a travel health declaration.
Be forewarned that, according to the Daily Herald, French St. Martin will require any visitors transiting the United States to quarantine for 7 days and then be tested once again for Covid-19.
Island residents with essential medical or professional needs can also visit the French side, but must get permission first.
How to Get There
In any event, airlines have started to fly between the U.S and Sint Maarten (SXM) once again. Caribbean Journal reports that American has flights from Miami and Charlotte; JetBlue from New York JFK; and Delta will resume service from Atlanta later this month.
Final Thoughts
French St. Martin has closed its border with the Dutch side of the island in a dispute over American tourists. Only in 2020, right?
This dispute between Dutch Sint Maarten and French St. Martin is a global discussion in microcosm. We’re still learning how best to deal with the health and safety issues of a novel coronavirus. We’re still figuring out what it means for travel going forward. Every country is dealing with the pandemic in its own way, some better than others. For what it’s worth, it appears that the Dutch and French sides of St. Martin are conscientiously making what they believe to be the best decisions for their citizens. And while they disagree with each other, neither are wrong.
I prefer testing to quarantine. Testing focuses on finding people who may be sick. Travel bans target residents of particular countries, without regard to how well or poorly they’ve managed their own personal bubble. The guy ignoring all common sense in France is a bigger risk than the American who’s been self-isolating at home. But testing has its problems, too; just ask The Bahamas.
The Dutch side has what I think are strong controls in place — testing before travel, temperature checks on arrival, and required face coverings. I think they’ll be fine, but time will tell. And if the outbreak never occurs, maybe officials on the French side will reconsider and re-open their border.
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