The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States has downgraded Jamaica from a Level 3 to a Level 2 designation in its latest COVID-19 travel advisory to citizens released this week. This change effectively puts the destination at a lower risk designation than over 70 percent of countries throughout the globe listed by the CDC.
“This is a very positive sign for Jamaica as we continue making progress on our path to recovery,” said Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism for Jamaica. “This reduced designation is a testament to the work of our government and the Jamaican people themselves to mitigate the impact of this pandemic.”
Minister Bartlett noted that visitors continue to feel confident in their ability to travel safely to Jamaica. “As a destination, we have been experiencing strong visitor arrivals and even posting record-setting numbers this winter. We expect this new lower designation by the CDC to help us grow those numbers even further, as it gives travelers even more reassurance that our island is among the safest choices in the world for their next trip.”
The health and safety of every visitor and citizen remains Jamaica’s top priority through its comprehensive Jamaica CARES protocols. These protocols were among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Safe Travels recognition that allowed the destination to safely reopen in June of 2020. These health and safety protocols continue to be proven effective, resulting in a recorded COVID-19 infection rate of under one percent within the island’s Resilient Corridors, which cover more than 85 percent of its tourism product and include less than one percent of its population.
Since reopening to travel, Jamaica has welcomed over one million visitors and is projected to return to pre-pandemic visitor arrivals numbers by the third quarter of 2023. Just this past weekend, the destination received over 9,000 air passenger arrivals from 62 flights into Sangster International Airport (MBJ) in just one day, the largest number on record since the airports reopened last year. This tops the previous one-day record of 7,000 arrivals from 52 flights into MBJ set just one week prior.
In addition, cruise ships have resumed port calls to Jamaica as of August and ninety percent of planned tourist investments remain on track.
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.
This year, the JTB was declared the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board’ by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the 14th consecutive year and Jamaica was named the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Destination’ for the 16th consecutive year as well as the ‘Caribbean’s Best Nature Destination’ and the ‘Caribbean’s Best Adventure Tourism Destination.’ In addition, Jamaica was awarded four gold 2021 Travvy Awards, including ‘Best Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas,’ ‘Best Culinary Destination –Caribbean,’ Best Travel Agent Academy Program,’ as well as a TravelAge West WAVE award for ‘International Tourism Board Providing the Best Travel Advisor Support’ for a record-setting 10th time. In 2020, Jamaica was named the WTA’s ‘World’s Leading Wedding Destination,’ the ‘World’s Leading Cruise Destination,’ and the ‘World’s Leading Family Destination.’ Also in 2020, 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.
