Jamaica hit by travel advisories

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU: THE TOURISM sector's greatest fear materialised yesterday with the issuing of a travel advisory by three of its main tourism partners, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

All three countries urged their citizens to take extra precautions if travelling to Jamaica. The advisory pointed specifically to the greater Kingston area where civil disorder could occur.

The US State Department, the strongest of the three, warns its citizens that there are unconfirmed reports of criminal gang members amassing in the Kingston area, as well as mobilisation of the Jamaican defence forces. It said, "If the situation ignites, there is a possibility of severe disruptions of movement within Kingston, including blocking of access roads to the Norman Manley International Airport."

The last time Jamaica had a travel advisory issued against it was during the April 1999 gas riots, which affected the then P.J. Patterson government.

Commenting on the triple effect, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, who spoke with The Gleaner from Florida yesterday said, "The triple impact of your three main destinations is going to be very challenging. Canada is our star growth market and the UK is a very solid market."

The United States remains the strongest market, as the island receives some 65 per cent of its tourists from there.

In the meantime, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association is calling for a resolution to the matter immediately. "The US is looking for this to be resolved on both sides. There is the extradition matter on one hand, and the security of their citizens on the other," stated the association's president, Wayne Cummings.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com