Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett - file photo
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Ed Bartlett
There is to be a strengthening of measures to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols by tourists and resorts along the resilient corridor.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says among the measures is the placement of over 70 wardens at various locations.
In an interview with Radio Jamaica News, Mr. Bartlett said he heard the reports from Health Minister Dr. Christopher Tufton that some tourists have been breaching COVID-19 restrictions, forcing the authorities to take them into state quarantine.
Mr. Bartlett said the John Byles led Resilient Corridor Management Team is to give details Monday on the new measures.
"We are now putting together more than 77 wardens for the resort area and particularly for the corridor, and we're also working with some private sector interests to increase the number of wardens that we're going to have to try to ensure that the surveillance that is required to keep visitors operating as stipulated is strengthened," he revealed.
Mr. Bartlett said resort operators and other stakeholders who fail to fully comply with the protocols are also facing sanctions under the adjusted measures.
"I'm amending the Tourist Board Act to give it more teeth in relation to dealing with breaches of this nature.... We're gonna have it where the discipline that is required to operate within the corridor is respected by all, and where it is not respected, very very strong measures will be taken in terms of licensing and other types of arrangements that are beneficial to visitors," he announced.
South coast resilient corridor
In the meantime, the Tourism Minister has sought to reassure hoteliers on the south coast that plans are being finalised for their reopening.
Mr. Bartlett said another resilient corridor will be created similar to what is on the north coast.
It will be managed by John Byles and Jason Henzell, Counsellor for the south coast chapter of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.
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