As the new United States/Cuba relations sink in here in Jamaica, tourism players are getting the getters, fearing the worst for a country which is already straining from job shortages and the rigors of the IMF programme now in its second year.US President Barak Obama announced late last year that the US would seek to re-establish relations with Cuba, a move many believe will bite into tourist arrivals here as a result, given its close proximity to Jamaica and its vast potential as a tourist destination.However, former local tourism guru Joe Issa, is among those who are more optimistic about the prospects for Jamaica. He tells the North Coast Times that Jamaica will be able to ‘ride the tide’ from Cuba, which is just north across the waters.
“I think Jamaica can withstand the competition that will arise from the opening up of Cuba to the Americans, one of our largest market for anything Jamaican,” he said, adding, “Jamaica has a lot to offer…we could even benefit from the increased traffic to the region if we strengthen our product, and it’s not just the tourism product.”Response from tourism stakeholders on the issue have been mixed, with several news reports undetermined about the outcome. Even so, the news of better relations between the two countries appears to have been welcomed in Jamaica, which has enjoyed many years of mutually beneficial relations with Cuba.
Meanwhile, Jamaica’s tourism industry remains on alert as details of the changing relations between the US and Cuba unfold.
