Visitors encouraged to schedule their COVID-19 test closer to their departing flight

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is advising tourists and other visitors planning to travel to the island to schedule their COVID-19 tests closer to their departing flight.

The advisory comes as tourism officials, in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, have shortened the window for COVID-19 tests for visitors. Prior to this, the window was for 10 days but this has been cut down to three days effective Thursday, March 11.

As of this date, travelers will now be required to take their COVID-19 test within three days of the travel date. The negative test result must be presented to the airline representative to complete the check-in for a flight.

Tests must be done by a medical laboratory that has a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments registration. The new advisory was outlined by Director of Tourism Donovan White in a statement released to Travel Market Report.

Highest priority being placed on safe tourism

Travel Market Report highlighted portions of the statement in which the White remarked that, “Jamaica continues to place the highest priority on the safety and well-being of our residents and visitors.

“Since the borders reopened in June, the Ministry of Tourism and Ministry of Health and Wellness have worked together to continuously adapt our entry requirements in tandem with international best practices.”

White reported that the enhanced entry testing requirement aims to maintain safe and seamless experiences for international visitors and Jamaicans. Jamaica has set up two ‘Resilient Corridors’ to encourage safe tourism practices.

They comprise the Northern segment stretching from Negril in Westmoreland across the northern coastline to Port Antonio in Portland and a South Coast segment running from Milk River in Clarendon westward to Negril in Westmoreland. With the establishment of the elegant corridor Jamaica has been reaping the benefits since late last year.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has reported that the country was already seeing positive signs that buoyancy is returning to the tourism sector. This is evidenced by the fact that hotel occupancy rates have slowly inching up with the current winter season seeing  a 40 per cent increase in arrivals compared with the previous period of “massive downturn”.