Home | Search Negril | Negril Map | Videos | Forum | Negril Calendar of Events | Where To Stay | Transportation | Restaurants | Things To Do

Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Opening Day

  1. #1
    Administrator

    User Info Menu

    Opening Day

    The "soft opening" of Sangster Airport in Montego Bay saw the arrival of 500+ visitors from mainly North America. But it was not without a new learning curve for everyone.

    Flights were delayed taking off as the originating airports got used to the new procedures making them arrive late to MoBay.

    With some 5000 Jamaicans returning to work after a 3 month closure, all needing to learn the new procedures as well led to more delays. It wasn't called a "soft opening" for nothing. It was a new experience for everyone.

    Health Minister Tufton was quoted in the Observer saying:

    "I am looking forward to the next couple of days, certainly the next couple of weeks. And, based on the numbers that have expressed an interest to visit [Jamaica], we are encouraged. We are encouraged that non-Jamaicans have confidence in our processes here and that they are willing to comply with those processes in their interest, but also in the interest of the general population.
    “And that augurs well for a stronger product when the time comes for further expansion and phases, which will come,” he said.

    The health minister also thanked his more than 100 team members on the ground yesterday, “ably supported by immigration, Customs, the JDF [Jamaica Defence Force], the constabulary, tourism...All in all, this COVID-19 challenge has brought this country in a way that I think will only make us stronger going forward”."

    Tourism Minister Bartlett said in the Gleaner:

    "Bartlett also said that Jamaica’s airline partners and tour operators and visitors in general ought to be commended for their positive response to Jamaica’s COVID-19 protocols, including the digital platform for bookings and seating arrangements, which will be helpful in future decision-making.
    More than 800 people have registered and booked on the JAMCOVID Visit Jamaica website, which offers disaggregated data on places of origin and other information."

    As mentioned previously, this is just Phase 1 of the reopening of tourism for Jamaica. Information will be gathered daily, seeing what works and what needs improvement and that will be used to formulate Phase 2 for July 1st.

    One topic not really mentioned so far is the necessity of contact tracing. The German Government wants to reinstate the airline contact tracing, informing all passengers on any given flight should anyone on that flight come down with COVID-19. This is the principle behind the additional monitoring of tourists who stay at a non-hotel private residence. Should they become ill, the people at every place they had been would need to be notified, interviewed and possibly quarantined. That is why the corridor zone was set up for Phase 1, to limit the amount of "damage" any one spreader of COVID-19 could cause.

    For an opening day, day one after a 3 month downtime, overall it seems everyone got to where they wanted to go. As the days progress, we will learn more about the true efficiencies and deficiencies of the new protocols. Keep watching for more.
    Negril.com - For the vacation that never ends!

  2. #2
    Member

    User Info Menu

    Re: Opening Day

    Jamaica has been a roll model in how to handle this mess. By no means perfect. But what could be in the midst of a pandemic? I pray everyone stays safe and healthy as things phase back to “normal”.
    Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. KJV Psalm 68:4

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •