Jamaica says while it is concerned at the latest travel advisory issued by Canada, it is also aware that the international community has taken note of Kingston’s efforts to deal with the crime situation on the Caribbean island.
“I just came out of the Canadian market a week ago and we were having some negatives, primarily the market responding to the soft economy…Price reductions in our competitive areas of Dominican Republic and Mexico. However, we have recovered and we are back to growth path and I am pleased to advise that we have 29, 000 new seats for the winter coming out of Canada and that there is a level of optimism…in so far as arrival up to May next year,” Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett said.
Bartlett said that the travel advisories “were a matter of public relations” and that he had no problems with Jamaica’s diplomatic friends reporting on the domestic situation.
“They do it everywhere, so I don’t hold it against any of our diplomatic partners for reporting on situations as they see it,” he said.
In its advisory, Canada noted that the Jamaican government has declared states of emergency in sections of the island and urged its nationals travelling here to exercise a high degree of caution at all times, monitor local media and follow the instructions of local authorities.
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