JHTA says US travel advisory against Jamaica will negatively impact winter tourist arrivals

 

The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) says the latest COVID-19 risk advisory from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will negatively impact tourist arrivals to the island during the upcoming winter season.

 

The CDC has increased Jamaica's COVID-19 risk level from three to four.

 

Level Four is the highest on the risk assessment scale.

 

It means that travellers to Jamaica have a very high possibility of contracting COVID-19. 

 

JHTA President Clifton Reader is expecting the CDC advisory to put a damper the tourism sector's performance. 

 

"We have the facts to back up that the winter season, not only from that declaration, but we did a survey within the JHTA a couple days ago and it shows that, where we were projecting 35 per cent for the winter season, it's now down to 30 per cent. So, with such a declaration telling people not to travel to Jamaica...we definitely believe that it's going to affect the travellers coming into Jamaica, occupants for the winter season," he contended.  

 

On Sunday, Delano Seiveright, Senior Advisor to the Tourism Minister, told Radio Jamaica News that the CDC advisory will have minimal impact on the travel plans of Americans.

 

Mr. Reader believes the CDC risk assessment could be revised within a few weeks if there is a reduction in COVID-19 cases in Jamaica. However, he contended that the damage has already been done for the current season. 

 

"If we keep the figures low, I understand over the next couple of weeks we could get out of Level Four. But, right now, we are at Level Four and I believe that the damage has been done already, in that people book a couple weeks out, a month out and decisions have already been taken whether to travel or not. So, we're just gonna have to look at how we can revive our industry, what else we can do to make sure that we get some occupancies for this winter season," he declared.