The tourism sector in Jamaica is proving one of the most compliant and resilient in the navigation of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Noting that the sector was one of the first to be “shut down” due to the pandemic and measures to maintain the virus, Clifton Reader, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), said “since re-opening last June, our hotels, attractions, tourist transportation, visitor shops and craft markets have been steadfastly observing the protocols – health and safety, sanitising and social distancing – to protect our workers and their families, our guests and Jamaicans in general and it is paying off”.

Every entity in the tourism sector is inspected and certified following the extensive protocols crafted by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Ministry of Health & Wellness.

“In fact, the systems introduced in the tourism sector have been so successful that we have thus far had a 98 per cent compliance score across the sector from TPDCo along with continuous recertification from the Ministry of Health and the Social Development Commission,” he expanded.

“We have been diligent and consistent in maintaining the highest possible COVID-19 protocols, adapting our operations and employee behaviour, redesigning public spaces and even introducing touchless services. We also have a robust system of both screening and testing for COVID-19. We are very pleased that these measures have proven to be successful as there is a low COVID positivity rate within the sector of just 0.5 per cent, which by any measure is extremely low.”

Reader said that while the tourism sector has traditionally proven quite resilient in response to previous natural disasters like hurricanes and other crises “the sheer depth and breadth of COVID-19 has necessitated a full national effort to mitigate the economic and social impact and craft a plan for the sustainable and inclusive recovery of the Jamaican economy”.

TOURISM A SIGNIFICANT PART OF NATIONAL ECONOMY

He said that “the Government and health authorities have taken exceptional steps to respond to the crisis with a focus rightly on public health and the provision of help and relief to the most vulnerable in the society and the JHTA continues to do its part to protect workers. From the start of the pandemic, even while many tourism entities remained closed, many continued to support workers with care packages, paid salaries and put in place many safety nets to help reduce the impact of the crisis”.

Noting that “tourism is a significant part of the national economy”, Reader said “the impact of COVID-19 is being felt throughout the tourism eco system, affecting myriad other sectors and industries. We have been working closely with the Government and the health authorities to establish and maintain the protocols necessary to keep everyone safe, restore traveller confidence and rebuild the destination in a measured and coordinated way to develop a stronger, more sustainable and resilient economy”.

Reader said that “a dynamic tourism industry depends on the availability of a variety of tourism services within the destination, from accommodations to restaurants and attractions and activities and the performance of the tourism sector, the effectiveness of the Resilient Corridor, the observance of strict health and safety protocols at our properties, prove convincingly, that tourists are not major risk carriers, mainly due to the rigorous testing requirements for both entry to and exit from the island”.

“The JHTA members continue to be vigilant while following the balanced, measured and coordinated policies implemented in collaboration with the authorities, to support the recovery from COVID-19 for all Jamaica,” Reader asserted.

“We note and are concerned about the uptick in COVID-19 cases within the country and encourage everyone, individuals and businesses, to take very seriously the warnings from the health authorities, for personal and collective responsibility in faithfully observing the COVID protocols of masking, sanitisation and social distancing. These simple but vital behaviours save lives as well as jobs.”