Jamaica’s Opposition Leader Urges Tourism Minister to Take U.S.-Cuba Relations Seriously

Opposition spokesperson for Tourism and Cruise Shipping Shahine Robinson today urged Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill to establish a working group to systematically assess the likely impact on tourism, as relations between the United States and Cuba begin to improve.

Robinson said the working group, comprising government and private sector stakeholders, should also look into strategies and a series of actions that will further propel Jamaica’s tourism sector.

She said there is increasing concerns by some stakeholders and that a recent report by the Caribbean Tourism Organization stating that, “US airlines are already lining up to operate scheduled service as soon as the Department of Transportation gives the go-ahead. They include American (Airlines) and JetBlue, which has been operating charter services from several US gateways for some time. United Airlines, Delta Airlines and SouthWest Airlines have also expressed early interest.”

Robinson also noted that already, US citizens no longer need advanced permission naming the purpose of travel.

The shadow minister argued that Dr. McNeill’s response so far has been disappointing and comes at a time when Jamaica’s tourism industry continues to lag behind many Caribbean neighbors.

“Despite 3.6 percent growth in Jamaica’s tourist arrivals last year, Aruba recorded 9.5 percent, Cayman Islands 10.8 percent and Haiti 10.8 percent,” she said, adding that high growth numbers exist in other Caribbean islands.

Robinson said the minister should “desist from gloating at Jamaica’s less than average performance and instead focus his energies on preparing for the likely opening up of Cuba, propelling higher growth in tourist arrivals and improving the nation’s tourism product”.

Source: The Jamaica Observer