A rumour that the CARICOM visa might be reimposed on visitors in the near future has drawn strong reactions from members of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA).

In a letter to The Gleaner, Wayne Cummings, president of the JHTA stated, "We have some fundamental problems with how it is being promulgated, particularly as the discussions continue without the inclusion of the economic sectors that will be negatively impacted by this measure."

He continued by criticising the implementation of the CARICOM visa regime earlier this year, and the subsequent handling of the matter, which he said was a "textbook case of how to instantaneously eliminate hard-earned gains made by the industry over many years."

The CARICOM visa was a requirement that had to be met by visitors from outside the region of the CARICOM single domestic space, between the months of January to May, during Cricket World Cup. With an exception of nationals from countries such as France, Germany, Canada, the United States and their dependent territories (to name a few), most visitors were required to have a visa.

Heavy losses

This, according to Cummings, caused several stakeholders within the industry to lose heavily, as the projected earnings of investors were not met, because of low visitor arrivals over the period (linked to cancellations of visits). He explained that despite some nationals being exempted, immigrants who reside in some of these countries were not. That posed a grave problem to the travel industry.

"If we don't look carefully at how certain nationals will access the visa, the market (tourism) is going to dry up," he said, adding that already significant ties have been strained.

The Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, in a statement released yesterday, stated that the JHTA was informed in a meeting this week that no final decision has been taken with respect to any reintroduction of the CARICOM visa.

According to the release, "It was made patently clear that there was no final decision at the recently concluded Heads of Government meeting to reintroduce the CARICOM visa."

They expressed regret at what is being described as an attempt to shatter the existing relationship between the ministry and the various private sector organisations that represent stakeholders across the tourism industry.

However, Cummings, while maintaining that the JHTA has not been significantly consulted, insisted "Our issue is that the PSOJ (members) arethe ones feeling the pain."

He said that the JHTA has the expertise to contribute to the transition but has not been consulted in that regard