JAMAICA | Senator Janice Allen laments Tourism Decline Due to US Travel Advisory - Demands Gov't Action !

Kingston, Jamaica. May 15, 2024: The Opposition Shadow Minister for Tourism and Linkages Senator Janice Allen wants immediate government intervention to influence a revision of the US travel advisory which warns Americans to reconsider travel to Jamaica due to high crime and inadequate medical services.

Senator Allen’s call to action follows revelations in a recent Jamaica Observer article where the CEO of Playa Resorts, which operates prominent properties in Jamaica, highlighted that the advisory has adversely affected the industry and has led to a significant surge in booking cancellations to the island.

Senator Allen's concerns, echoed by industry stakeholders, directly challenge Minister Bartlett's assertion that the US travel advisory has had no negative impact on tourism arrivals.

"In my discussions with operators across the spectrum of the industry, it seems Minister Bartlett is the only person who has not noticed a decline in arrivals when compared to 2023", remarked Senator Allen.

Allen pointed to arrival numbers for April 2024 at Jamaica's primary international airports, Norman Manley and Sangster International, which revealed a notable decline compared to the previous year.

Sangster International Airport saw a 4.2% decline or 19,000 fewer arrivals, while Norman Manley International Airport experienced a 7.6% decline or 11,200 fewer arrivals in April 2023.

The Opposition Spokesperson underscored the repercussions faced by airlines, including cancellations of routes and reduced services, directly attributable to the travel advisory.

"Frontier Airlines and American Airlines have scaled back their operations, and other major carriers like United and JetBlue have reported decreased load factors due to the advisory",  stated Allen.

Echoing sentiments expressed by industry leaders, Senator Allen emphasized the urgent need for government intervention to mitigate the crisis.

"She asserted that the government needs to wake up to the reality of what's happening in the industry and take whatever action is necessary to stop the bleeding.

Senator Allen is once again calling for collaborative efforts among stakeholders to address the challenges facing Jamaica's tourism sector.

"A crucial development such as this requires the calling of all the stakeholders to the table to immediately work through a solution", Senator Allen urged.

In the meantime, wiredja.com understands that the government has been having myriad  discussions with the US State Department personnel over this matter.

However, its understood that the refusal of the US Government to withdraw the travel advisory has nothing to do with crime as the government has been able to show the improvements they are experiencing with tackling crime, particularly the fact that very few tourists are affected by criminal activity.

Rather, the US intransigence has to do with the inability of the government to give a clear outline and solution to the connundrum being experieced with its heralth facilities, particularly the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

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