New Procedures Make Travel More Seamless While Protecting Visitors and Residents
KINGSTON, JAMAICA – Jamaica has announced revised measures for international travelers visiting the island with arrivals beginning October 10. These new processes make the required online Travel Authorization application more seamless for visitors while still maintaining stringent health protocols. The Ministry of Health and Wellness has expanded acceptable testing categories allowing travelers to choose between presenting a negative COVID-19 Antigen test or a negative PCR test. An accredited lab must perform testing, and results must be presented to the air carrier before boarding a flight to Jamaica and upon arrival.
This process replaces the prior requirement for travelers to upload COVID-19 test results as part of the Travel Authorization process. Current high-risk areas include Brazil, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, and the United States. In addition to the revised entry measures, travelers can now visit COVID-compliant attractions located inside and outside of the Resilient Corridors, using transportation licensed under the Tourist Board Act. The full list of attractions is available on the Visit Jamaica website. The new measures also allow visitors to stay in multiple accommodation options within the Resilient Corridors, enabling travelers to explore more of Jamaica.
“Health and safety have been our priority since reopening our borders to international travel on June 15th,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “Our phased approach has allowed us to assess the risks and make adjustments to safeguard our visitors and residents continually. The refreshed protocols and entry measure we have in place ensure a more seamless process so that our guests have the best experience possible.”
Test results should be no more than ten (10) days old, measured from the day the sample was taken to the day of arrival in Jamaica. Tests must be performed at a lab accredited by national health authorities such as the World Health Organization, the Food & Drug Administration, or the Pan American Health Organization. Only swab COVID-19 PCR or Antigen tests are acceptable.
All visitors will still be screened upon arrival in Jamaica via thermal temperature checks, symptom observation, and a health officer’s brief interview. Business travelers will receive a swab test at the airport and must remain in quarantine until results are available.
The current process will be in effect through October 31. Jamaica’s health and safety measures are frequently revisited, consistent with the government’s approach to evaluating the COVID-19 global situation. As more is discovered about the virus, including medical advancements, or as the risk profile changes, Jamaica will make any necessary and appropriate revision to the protocols.
For more information on the Travel Authorization, visit www.visitjamaica.com/travelauthorization.
For more information on Jamaica’s Health and Safety Protocols, visit www.jtbonline.org.
About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in Kingston’s capital city. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto, and London. Representative offices are located in Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Mumbai, Tokyo, and Paris.
This year, the JTB was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board by the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the thirteenth consecutive year. Jamaica was declared the Caribbean’s Leading Destination for the fifteenth consecutive year. Jamaica also earned the WTA award for the World’s Leading Cruise Destination and Leading Meetings & Conference Centre for the Montego Bay Convention Centre. According to CNN, Bloomberg, and Forbes, most recently, Jamaica was named one of the “Best Places to Go in 2020”. Jamaica was awarded three gold 2020 Thavy Awards, including Best Culinary Destination, Caribbean/Bahamas, Best Tourism Board Overall, and Best Tourism Board, Caribbean/Bahamas. In 2019, TripAdvisor® ranked Jamaica as the #1 Caribbean Destination and #14 Best Destination in the World. In 2018, the International Council of the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association (PATWA) named Jamaica the Destination of the Year and TranAlliance Media named JTB Best Tourism Board, and Jamaica as Best Culinary Destination, Best Wedding Destination, and Best Honeymoon Destination. Jamaica is home to some of the world’s best accommodations, attractions, and service providers that continue to receive prominent global recognition.
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