For our Thomas Cook visitors...

"All Thomas Cook tourists in Jamaica will continue to enjoy our warm hospitality until it is time for them to return home,” said Bartlett who, additionally, met with British High Commissioner Asif Ahmad Monday at Jamaica House.

The high commissioner confirmed that customers currently abroad with Thomas Cook who are booked to return to the UK over the next two weeks, will be brought back to their home as close as possible to their booked return date.

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/lates...as_Cook_effect

The Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) fund, which is paid for through industry levies, will cover the cost of the holiday and repatriation for those who were stranded.

Yesterday, the first group of 333 Thomas Cook passengers stranded in Jamaica were repatriated back to the UK via Virgin Atlantic from the Sangster International Airport.

“A number of repatriation flights will be operating between Jamaica and the UK for the next two weeks, however, in the meantime, all Thomas Cook tourists in Jamaica will continue to enjoy the country’s warm hospitality until it’s time for them to return home,” a statement from Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said yesterday.

http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/l...o-agents-avoid

Well done Jamaica, well done.

Well Done x2

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by bigbamboo

Well done Jamaica, well done.

---

Well done Jamaica what? What specifically did the government of Jamaica do to help these potentially stranded travellers?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jamaica Jeff

Well done Jamaica what? What specifically did the government of Jamaica do to help these potentially stranded travellers?

---

that's what i was wondering, too.

i read the observer article to see if there was any mention of exactly what the gvt., tourism industry and individual hotels were doing to make sure stranded travelers have a safe/affordable/enjoyable/etc. time while waiting to get home and didn't see anything.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jamaica Jeff

Well done Jamaica what? What specifically did the government of Jamaica do to help these potentially stranded travellers?

---

Specifically, from the British High Commissioner:

"British High Commissioner to Jamaica Asif Ahmad says he is grateful for Jamaica's support in assisting customers of travel firm Thomas Cook, which collapsed into bankruptcy on Monday, leaving some 600,000 holidaymakers stranded in a number of countries, including Jamaica."

http://amp.jamaicaobserver.com/lates..._Cook_collapse

And specifically, from the President of the JHTA:

Omar Robinson, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), has sought to assure tourists who may be affected by the Thomas Cook collapse to "continue to enjoy their vacation while we work out the details in getting them home."

http://www.rjrnewsonline.com/local/m...-jamaica-today

My point exactly Rob. Lots of talk which may have resulted in helping to coordinate the "repatriation" of affected tourists but I sincerely doubt that other than for some "man hours" that they contributed in any way financially.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jamaica Jeff

My point exactly Rob. Lots of talk which may have resulted in helping to coordinate the "repatriation" of affected tourists but I sincerely doubt that other than for some "man hours" that they contributed in any way financially.

---

Why does Jamaica have to contribute actual dollars in order to help and assist in this situation for it to mean anything? And what is wrong with "human hours"? Do those Jamaican folks time and effort mean nothing?

Years ago when I was helping to organize spring break trips from Ohio State, when there was a problem with one of the charter flights, we were assisted greatly by the government. Between waivers, extensions, free phone calls, expedited permits, etc, it would have been a nightmare without the help.

A British company that pays British taxes goes bankrupt. Even the British wouldn't expect a small island like Jamaica to foot any part of the bill.

Jamaica has assisted to the point that the British High Commissioner publicly announced that he is grateful.

I think that the High Commissioner would be the one to know the best.

I was simply shining light on the well known fact that the Jamaican government is quite quick to seek praise for its "efforts" in many situations when in fact most of those are sorted out by others and funded by others.

What's the British High Commissioner going to say in the midst of it all? The Jamaican government was not helpful?

As far as actual dollars? Come on Rob. Maybe you haven't flown to Canada or the U.S. lately and taken the time to look at the fees that the Jamaican government collects in various shapes and forms from airfare alone. ASTRONOMICAL! Don't tell me that their "human hours" is a significant expense relative to what they rake in from tourist generated fees not to mention the revenue from GCT directly and indirectly that each tourist contributes to the JA economy.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Jamaica Jeff

I was simply shining light on the well known fact that the Jamaican government is quite quick to seek praise for its "efforts" in many situations when in fact most of those are sorted out by others and funded by others.

What's the British High Commissioner going to say in the midst of it all? The Jamaican government was not helpful?

As far as actual dollars? Come on Rob. Maybe you haven't flown to Canada or the U.S. lately and taken the time to look at the fees that the Jamaican government collects in various shapes and forms from airfare alone. ASTRONOMICAL! Don't tell me that their "human hours" is a significant expense relative to what they rake in from tourist generated fees not to mention the revenue from GCT directly and indirectly that each tourist contributes to the JA economy.

---

Jeff,

Could you please shed a little more light on your well known "fact" that the Jamaican government is quite quick to seek praise for its "efforts". I live here and have never read, heard or seen anything about this "fact".

The British High Commissioner is perfectly able to say what he means, and he did have the choice to say nothing. But he chose to say what he said.

Until November of this year, Jamaica has been under the economic rules of IMF which is controlled by the USA. Many of the taxes and fees at the airport are a direct consequence of the IMF. Departure fees for Caribbean countries range from $15 to $51, Jamaica being in the middle with $35. The US international departure tax is $18.60 with a whole slew of taxes and fees including flight segment, frequent flyer and even a DHS September 11 fee. Jamaica is far from unique or astronomical in it's fees.

The TEF fee is a tourist charged fee going directly back to the tourism areas in the form of upgrades such as the sidewalk on Norman Manley and the added street lights without raising the taxes on the average Jamaican.

And I feel that Jamaican human hours are worth just as much as the human hours in any other country.

As for the GCT, that is worth a whole discussion on its own and can be exceedingly boring. But to keep this easy, the sales tax in NYC can be as high as 18.375% with Jamaica at 16.5%.

There are stories from around the globe of hotels trying to force tourists to pay the hotel bills that TC will default on. And people thrown out of their rooms with no where to stay until return flights could be arranged.

I think it's a great contribution if JA hoteliers were able to avoid that and instead continue to offer guests their full hospitality.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jon c.

There are stories from around the globe of hotels trying to force tourists to pay the hotel bills that TC will default on. And people thrown out of their rooms with no where to stay until return flights could be arranged.

I think it's a great contribution if JA hoteliers were able to avoid that and instead continue to offer guests their full hospitality.

---

yes, that was exactly the type of confirmation i was expecting to see in the observer article.

Jon,

That is one of the ways that Jamaica has been assisting with the British High Commission. I have not heard of any hotels holding guest at ransom as has been happening elsewhere.

When I got stranded here after Gilbert in '88, we were stuck for 5 days. No one charged for anything but we did offer token payments since there was no way to get cash. Hotels across the island did not charge for the extra days. When you are stressed out, that is worth more than money!

Rob,

I am sure that with you living HERE that you read the Observer, Gleaner etc on a daily basis as I do including when I am not living for a good part of the year in Negril.

Sorry for the use of the word "fact" (not surprised that you chose to split hairs on the word not the issue) but if you read any government related newspaper article the general gist is typically the government/authorities proclaiming how excellent government and the delivery of government services are in Jamaica. Many disagree. That's my opinion and that of many of my neighbours, friends etc in Jamaica.

I am not sure what the sales tax in NYC has to do with the GCT (thanks for clarifying the 16.5% part) and I agree that a discussion of GCT can be boring. Not boring for the Jamaican government when you take in to consideration what percentage of their total revenue is derived from the GCT.

The IMF? You don't say? I didn't realize that. So the airport related fees that the Jamaican government collect go to the IMF?

Before you take the time to answer let me clarify that the above is rhetorical SARCASM. Perfect civilized. Actually a common type of subtle and sometimes not so subtle communication especially favoured by the British. The same British whos High Commissioner when asked for a statement (as he would have been asked by many, many countries affected by the Thomas Cook bankruptcy) chose to make a blanket and seemingly generic statement which is the common and polite thing to do.

I am not sure where you are going with the human hours in Jamaica being worth just as much as in any other country? Did I indicate or infer otherwise?

I admire your love of Jamaica and your desire to promote and protect all things Jamaican but you may want to consider that others are entitled to their opinions just as you are. Constantly jumping on anyone who speaks their mind is quite common in Jamaica. Encouraging free speech and an independent media has been cited by Transparency International as one way to improve certain problems in Jamaica.

I do not live here full time and have only been coming to Jamaica for 33 years but I do strive to learn as much as I can as often as I can.

That being said thank-you for providing this forum.

Respect.