Tourism won’t be ‘business as usual’

THE EDITOR, Madam:

WITH MOST things grinding to a halt worldwide, this pandemic has proven to be as much of an economic crisis as it is a health one. Many sectors have changed their day-today operations, with some allowing for greater flexibility in the workplace by introducing the work-from-home model. Unfortunately, with the tourism industry being largely servicesdriven, working from home is simply not an option.

For many years, tourism has been the backbone of the Jamaican economy, being our main GDP earner and providing thousands of jobs for a large percentage of our people. From the farmers who supply our hotels to the craft vendors and tour guides who engage with our visitors, tourism has allowed many to put food on their tables and keep a roof over their heads. Now faced with a situation that is fraught with uncertainty, they are, for sure, among those experiencing the harshest kickback from the crisis.

As the coronavirus began to spread in Jamaica, tourism was one of the first industries to close, and it is likely to be one of the last to reopen. As world leaders and scientists try to chart the way forward, controlling human interaction will be key to managing and, ultimately, eradicating this pandemic. As such, travel and leisure will require special planning and scrutiny to ensure that this is achieved and will possibly necessitate a phased return to the world. As we look ahead to the days and months to come, life, as we know it, will not be the same, and tourism, for one, will not be business as usual. I am therefore appealing to the Jamaican Government, in particular, the ministers of tourism and finance, to devise a fiscal package for our sector to enable its recovery, viability, and long-term growth.

MONETARY BOOST

With tourism being largely seasonal in Jamaica, many small boutique hotels and family-run businesses were already faced with challenges that some of our foreign-owned counterparts did not face. In order to weather this storm and remain competitive and relevant in what was already not a level playing field, a monetary boost will be welcomed by all in what is a very trying time. We hope that with the Government’s commitment to supporting us throughout this crisis, we will have a functioning and promising ‘once you go, you know’ destination to get back to.

With that being said, now is not the time for platitudes. Instead, it is a time to be forward-thinking, tenacious, and forbearing as it is our collective response to this crisis that will define us in the end. This will, no doubt, be a test of the resilience of our Jamaican people, but I am confident it is one we can endure to ensure that Jamaica remains the ‘heartbeat of the world’.

JOHN A. THOMPSON Small hotelier