Visitor arrivals to Jamaica slow amid uncertainty over US immigration changes

By Kimone Witter    

 

The uncertainty in the United States over the immigration changes by the Trump administration is negatively affecting visitor arrivals from Jamaica's main source market.

 

This is according to Robin Russell, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.

 

Mr. Russell told Radio Jamaica News that there has been a slowdown in arrivals since President Donald Trump took office. 

 

While the Winter Tourist Season continues to show "positive numbers" from the US and Canada, he said there have been operational issues arising from storms in the US forcing flight cancellations, as well as the uncertainty regarding Trump's new immigration policy. 

 

"We know there's a little softening and I think it has to do with what's going on in the US - which is our main source market - with the deportations. And any time there is any kind of uncertainty, it kind of affects tourism. So we're hoping that some of it will settle down that we can really start to grow. So we're not in a growth stage now, but we're doing well and we will continue to work to do better," he noted. 

 

Mr. Russell said he expects strong competition from cruise lines to stopover arrivals this year. 

 

"Cruise lines have launched their new ships and they're very aggressive with pricing. So they are taking up some of the market. That's the biggest challenge to stopover tourists now. So I'm going to be putting my neck on the block to say that I am almost sure that we're going to have very, very positive cruise numbers because of this."