Montego Bay Remains Open Amid State of Emergency
Operators are continuing to send clients to Jamaica’s Montego Bay amid a state of emergency declared to quell the area’s gang violence.
“The resort areas are not really affected by the situation. It is focusing on the areas on the residential side on the mountains. The highway that wends its way from the airport does not go through this community.”
Jamaica Defense Force troops have set up a base in St James Parish, where Montego Bay and its airport are situated. According to the country’s newspaper the Jamaica Gleaner, 100 murders were recorded in 20 days so far this year. The murder rate in St James specifically is reportedly twice as high as any other parish.
The UK Foreign Office (FCO) advises: “You should follow local advice including restrictions in selected areas, and exercise particular care if travelling at night. Tourists should stay in their resorts and limit travel beyond their respective security perimeters.
However, Jamaica’s tourism minister, Edmund Bartlett, told TTG that the military operation was concentrated in the mountainous area far away from the coast.
“The resort areas are not really affected by the situation. It is focusing on the areas on the residential side on the mountains. The highway that wends its way from the airport does not go through this community.”
Bartlett said tourists in coastal hotels were unlikely to see any troops, though “they may encounter a check point on the odd occasion”.
A statement from Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism added: “These enhanced security measures are not out of the ordinary in international tourism markets and the Jamaican residents have shown great support of this action.”
Thomas Cook said it had “fewer than 10” clients in the area and was advising them to stay in resort unless on an airport transfer or excursion.
Unique Caribbean Holidays, the UK operator for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, said the situation would in “no way infringe upon guests’ vacations with us”. It added that any client who wished to move to another resort would have to cover any price difference.
Around 206,000 Britons visited Jamaica in 2016, making it the second most popular Caribbean destination behind Barbados.
Source: TTG Media
