Bad news for Jamaica and Caribbean tourism continues with Canada’s decision that its major airlines will not be flying into the Caribbean, not at least until spring of this year.

The main source markets for the Caribbean are the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. These countries are taking ever increasing measures to protect their citizens from the ravages of COVID-19 as they attempt to prevent infectious individuals crossing their borders.

It is the opposite approach taken by Jamaica and many countries in the region that are keen to continue bringing tourists in.

Speaking on this latest decision by Canada, Clifton Reader, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), said: “The suspension of service by Canada’s four main airlines into the Caribbean until April 2021 is an unfortunate development that will negatively affect inflows of travellers to and from Jamaica and the Caribbean, in general. But, no one can fault a government for doing what it feels necessary to protect its citizens from what has proven to be a deadly virus. 

“Although Canada has had reduced movement across its borders for several months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we had hoped that with the approval of several vaccines we would begin to see a reduction in travel restrictions and opening up of borders now closed due to increased numbers of positive results over the recent past months.”

Last week, Jamaica had to begin antigen and PCR testing for passengers returning to the U.S. in accordance with stipulations issued by that country’s government. Both the UK and Canada are also insisting on more thorough testing for those returning to the country from Jamaica. This has seen the public health sector finally having to collaborate with the private sector on the issue of testing.”

Reader continued: “Only last week we got news that the US had recorded a 35 per cent decrease in their case count readings and, with the ramping up of their vaccination programme, we are hoping that nothing catastrophic occurs that would cause them to feel the need to take the Canadian approach. 

“We continue to do what we can to protect our employees, families and communities by following stringent protocols and we look forward to a robust private-public sector vaccination programme in Jamaica that will not only reassure us of our own safety but restore enough confidence to see the reopening of travel to and from countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, where travel has also been restricted.”