The tourism sector was projected to rake in earnings of 4.25 billion dollars in this fiscal year with arrivals of both cruise and stopover visitors expected to top 4.6 million. It has been carrying its fair share in terms of its contribution to the Jamaican economy being the second-largest source of foreign exchange earnings and was setting records in terms of its performance.
The numbers looked good – The industry grew by just over five percent in the last financial year.
Earnings last year were said to be in the region of 3.7 billion US dollars or just about half a billion more than in 2018. Tourism contributes 54 percent in terms of its percentage of exports to the economy. For the first two months of 2020, just over one million visitors came to the island. But all that would come crashing down at the heights of the 2019/20 winter tourist season due to the global pandemic.
Global tourism is taking a hit – The world tourism organization is projecting a decline in visitor arrivals of between 58 and 78 percent for the year. These projections are continuously revised as countries start to loosen travel restrictions and open their borders.
Meanwhile, in Jamaica, anxiety among tourism operators is growing. Uncertainty and questions swirl on a schedule for the return of an industry that affects more than 300 thousand workers according to figures released by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association.
Tourism also impacts thousands of suppliers and other sectors including farmers, entertainers, craft traders, artisans, and tradesmen.
Chairman Western Chapter, Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association, Robin Russell, is optimistic about the prospects for reopening of the sector.
A date is important for us to know when to re-open
– Robin Russell, Chairman Western Chapter, Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association
Protocols are now being developed to ensure the safety of workers and visitors.
According to Henzell, there are several factors at play affecting the reopening of the industry.
It’s a two-way street, we Jamaicans want to believe that the tourist we are serving is as close to virus-free as possible and vis versa. – Jason Henzell, Owner, Jakes Hotel.
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