Letter of the Day | Testing nightmare for visitors
Published:Saturday | June 13, 2020 | 12:09 AM
THE EDITOR, Madam:
The flip-flopping of the Government of Jamaica on a serious policy issue such as the testing of tourists, especially after some guests have already booked their flights, and the logistics nightmare this will create will be disastrous.
Many weeks ago, I wrote the minister of tourism and suggested that we take the lead in arriving at a common Caribbean position on testing as the longer we delayed, the more we would be pressured by the airlines to have no testing.
As expected, we delayed and did not arrive at a common position and announced to the industry that there would be no testing of foreign visitors.
To now reverse this position when we lack the capability to efficiently and quickly test and provide results is ludicrous and is likely to be seriously damaging to the industry.
It would have been simpler if we had required testing before arrival and had guests test themselves within 72 hours before arrival, but testing on arrival sounds like a nightmare for our arriving guests.
This really is not workable, in my opinion, and will be a total turn-off for most visitors.
ROBERT STEPHENS