Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is demanding that every worker and stakeholder in the tourism sector be fully vaccinated. Bartlett says the initiative is expected to boost the country’s tourist attraction as an effective marketing tool.

On Wednesday, October 13 at the sitting of the House of Representatives Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said that since the reopening of our borders June 2020 – September 2021 Jamaica has welcomed a total of one million two hundred and eighty-five thousand three hundred and sixty-eight visitors. He also noted that the country has also received 8,381 cruise visitors.

He says on August 15 Jamaica reached a significant milestone within the tourism industry attracting 1 million stop-over visitors in just 14 months. As Bartlett anticipates a promising winter for tourism due to the high demand the Minister says the drive for vaccination has seen 60% of the workers receive the jab.

The Minister further defended the return of cruise ships, noting that they are guided by global standards and best practices to ensure the safety of citizens and visitors. He noted that Jamaica was the third country to receive the World Travel Safety seal from the WTTC as being full COVID-19 compliant for visitors.

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