The Tribune

AS of tomorrow, the travel ban Jamaica instituted on flights to and from the United Kingdom due to a prevalence of COVID- 19 cases will come to an end.

The ban, instituted as part of the measures under Jamaica’s Disaster Risk Management Act, officially expires today, according to a press statement from Jamaica’s Tourist Board yesterday.

The ban brought travel between Jamaica and the UK to a halt and was done as part of the island’s efforts to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Several countries around the globe have also been forced to institute similar travel bans as a part of their COVID-19 management measures.

However, with the global deployment of COVID- 19 vaccines there has been an increase in confidence as it relates to travel and tourism.

Speaking on the significance of lifting the ban, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said: “On Saturday May 1, Jamaica will reopen its borders to international visitors from the United Kingdom.

“This will enable the critical gateways of Heathrow and Gatwick airports, to have transit for passengers coming through and who are fully compliant with health and safety protocols required for international travel.”

Minister Bartlett also said: “Jamaica’s position at this time is critical in relation to the opening up of the summer tourist season and in fact, the importance of enabling the diaspora, particularly the strong British clientele that have always come to the island.

“The lifting of the ban is also against the background of the improved vaccination programme in the UK and the fact that pretty close to 50 percent of UK residents have received their second dose of vaccinations.”

Since reopening its borders last June, Jamaica has welcomed approximately 1.5 million visitors under the island’s robust health and safety protocols.

“The opening of the borders is important in the context of not just Jamaica’s tourism but Caribbean tourism, as so many of these countries benefit from transiting through Jamaica for British and European nationals.”

He said the ban’s removal is important against the background of the recent call by the Caribbean Tourism Organisation urging a review of the categorisation of Caribbean countries by the UK.

Jamaica’s decision to reopen flights with the UK will be welcome news for British expats here in The Bahamas.