Media WriterJamaica has established a new Tourism Vaccination Task Force that aims to facilitate the administration of COVID-19 vaccinations to all tourism workers island wide. Under the leadership of Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Hon. Edmund Bartlett, the task force has organized a series of voluntary vaccination blitzes located at strategic sites across the country. The initiative aims to increase access to vaccinations for Jamaica’s tourism workers, including individuals working in hotels, villas and guest houses, attractions, airports, cruise ports, craft markets as well as ground transportation operators.
The recently established Tourism Vaccination Task Force has been conducting a series of meetings over the last couple of weeks to develop a comprehensive vaccination strategy to meet its target of a fully immunized tourism workforce.
SPECIAL THANK YOU: Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (standing) expresses sincere appreciation to scores of tourism workers during their observation period after taking the vaccine of their choice at the Moon Palace blitz site on Friday, September 3, 2021. He thanked them for playing their part in safeguarding the tourism sector by taking the lifesaving vaccine.
“The immunization of tourism workers is vital to safeguarding Jamaica’s tourism sector and the Tourism Vaccination Task Force has been working assiduously to ensure that we make it easier for our essential workers to have access to vaccines,” said Minister Bartlett. “Our target is to ensure that all of Jamaica’s 170,000 tourism workers are vaccinated and protected from the possible harm that can come from contracting the deadly COVID-19 virus and its variants. This island-wide vaccination program will aid in our recovery efforts for the sector and by extension the country,” he added.
Tourism worker vaccination drives began at The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on August 30 and continued at Sandals Negril on September 2 and Moon Palace Hotel in Ocho Rios on September 3. Other proposed sites for future vaccination activities for the tourism sector include Emancipation Park, Kingston; Harmony Beach Park, Montego Bay; Falmouth Cruise Ship Pier; Treasure Beach, St. Elizabeth; and the Port Antonio Cruise Ship Pier.
In order to streamline and expedite the vaccination of tourism workers, the Task Force is working in tandem with the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ), and various tourism stakeholders within the public and private sectors.
The Task Force is co-chaired by the Tourism Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Jennifer Griffith, and President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Clifton Reader. The other members include Chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Ian Dear; Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Godfrey Dyer; Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch; Director of Tourism, Donovan White; President and CEO, the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Professor Gordon Shirley; Executive Director of Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), Joy Roberts; Acting Executive Director, TPDCo, Stephen Edwards; Executive Director of Chukka Caribbean Adventures and Chairman of the COVID-19 resilient corridors management team, John Byles; Executive Chairman, Sandals Resorts International, Adam Stewart; First Vice President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and former JHTA President, Nicola Madden-Greig; Senior Advisor and Strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright; and General Manager of Deja Resorts, Robin Russell.
For more information on Jamaica, please go to www.visitjamaica.com.
About The Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo and Paris.
Last year, the JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the 13th consecutive year and Jamaica was named the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the 15th consecutive year as well as the Caribbean’s Best Spa Destination and the Caribbean’s Best MICE Destination. As well, Jamaica copped the WTA’s World’s Leading Wedding Destination, the World’s Leading Cruise Destination, and the World’s Leading Family Destination. Additionally, Jamaica was awarded three gold 2020 Travvy Awards for Best Culinary Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas. The Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the 2020 Destination of the Year for Sustainable Tourism. In 2019, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition.
For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Jamaica go to the JTB’s Website at www.visitjamaica.com or call the Jamaica Tourist Board at 1-800-JAMAICA (1-800-526-2422). Follow the JTB on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube. View the JTB blog at www.islandbuzzjamaica.com.
