Although Jamaica is now open for tourism, covid is still a major issue and there are a few questions one might ask themselves before making the journey, such as:
- Are there proper covid protocols set in place for the safety of myself and my friends, family, or travel partners?
- Are workers required to wear masks or be vaccinated?
- What about crime? Will I be safe while visiting Jamaica?
At this time of writing, there are stringent rules set up to aid in the fight with covid-19 to ensure the safety of tourists and workers within the industry. Let’s go over some of the things you should expect before and during your trip to Jamaica.
Entry Restrictions for Jamaica
- Prior to checking in for a flight to Jamaica, you must get authorization to enter from the Visit Jamaica website
- There is a ban on all flights arriving in Jamaica from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, India, Paraguay, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago until 10 August. Additionally, all non-Jamaicans who have been in these countries within the previous 14 days prior to the intended arrival date in Jamaica and who may seek to enter the island through another country, will not be permitted to enter Jamaica.
- All travellers from 12 years and upwards arriving in Jamaica must present a negative COVID-19 molecular (PCR, NAA, RNA) or Antigen test, which was conducted within the 72 hours prior to the date of travel
- Business travellers must submit a negative COVID-19 test and be subject to testing on arrival (which they will need to pay for)
- All travellers arriving in Jamaica will be screened for COVID 19 symptoms at the airport
Health and Safety Protocols
Here are some things you can expect while visiting:
- Masks are required in public spaces
- Business offer a temperature check and hand sanitization upon entry
- Taxi/tour operators offer sanitization upon entering the vehicle
- Parks and resorts have sanitization points set up throughout the property
Apart from this companies are now pushing to have their staff vaccinated. With that said measures are being taken to ensure the safety of tourists and locals alike during the pandemic.
What About Crime?
I recently read an advisory that listed Jamaica on a list of countries that you should not visit because of the high crime rate. The site also went on to list a few communities that tourist should not visit. Now while the list did point out the unsafe zones for tourism, the issue here is that none of the areas mentioned are tourist zones. The case here is the same with just about every other country, there will be areas with a higher crime rate while in some other areas crime is low or next to non-existent.
So, rest assured there are many tourist areas you can visit without worrying about your safety. In fact, many tourist destinations, attractions and hotels have received some of the most prestigious awards from bodies such as Trip advisor for their A+ customer service and overall experience.