Jamaica has announced it will reopen its borders for international travellers on June 15.
.The country is currently repatriating 8,000 Jamaican nationals who have been stranded overseas due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions. Additionally, an extensive set of operational protocols were announced, including health screening before entry and upon entry, which will be implemented to manage risks to workers, communities and travellers. From planning the trip to enjoying the destination, the protocols address all stages of the visitors? journey, incorporating the lifecycle of prevention, detection and response.
As the nation?s largest economic engine, Jamaica?s tourist industry employs 130,000 workers, and impacts an additional 120,000 jobs from other industries (water, agriculture, power, among others), fuelling more than one-third of the country?s economy.
?Tourism is the lifeblood of our local economy, and with the help of international experts and a dedicated task force, we have developed protocols that allow us to safely reopen our borders,? said Donovan White, Jamaica?s director of tourism. ?We are confident that as we restart our economy, Jamaicans will work together to ensure a safe, secure and seamless experience for our tourism workers, their families, and visitors, while preserving the authentic experiences travellers seek when they visit our shores.?
The Jamaican government worked closely with international partners to develop public health-focused tourism protocols. It included extensive consultation with local government agencies including Ministries of Health & Wellness, National Security and Foreign Affairs as well as the private sector, unions, and international partners within and beyond the tourist industry including the World Travel & Tourism Council, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, The World Bank, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and development finance banks.
All visitors will be screened via thermal temperature checks and symptom observation. If temperature is elevated, the visitor will be subject to additional screening, including testing, if needed. Any visitor who exhibits symptoms or is ill will be subject to quarantine.
Jamaica?s health and safety protocols will be revisited every two weeks, which is consistent with the government's approach of evaluating the COVID-19 global situation.
