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Tourism taking a hit - Visitor spending down, occupancy at 40 per cent
Published: Wednesday | October 7, 2009
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Cummings
WESTERN BUREAU:
Visitor spending is at an all-time low and occupancy levels are now at 40 per cent across the board, says president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Wayne Cummings.
Jamaica's robust tourist industry has taken a U-turn, causing the JHTA president to describe the fall season as just that.
"This fall has fallen, the chicken has come home to roost in many ways and we are not seeing the business at all," Cummings said yesterday.
His comments were cemented by area chair of the JHTA Negril Chapter, Evelyn Smith, who revealed that occupancy levels in the 'Capital of Casual' were at 30 per cent, with some resorts reporting 10 and 15 per cent bookings, and unable to close their doors.
Staff rotations
However, many of them have started staff rotations with the hope that the winter season will be their saving grace.
It is not unusual for September and October, tagged 'shoulder months', to be slower than the others in relation to the island's tourism sector, but both Cummings and Smith concur that this same time last year the country was doing much better.
"Even though the world was on the decline, Jamaica was doing well with its arrivals into the hotels," argued Cummings. He said the island was just now feeling the pinch of the recession.
And this is evident in the closure of two hotels so far, the 320-room Iberostar Rose Hall and Sandals Inn in Montego Bay. Sandals Whitehouse, closed its doors earlier this year. A number of duty-free merchents are also facing closure, as their business
have nosedived, taking a 70 per cent hit in the process, while shops located in the hotels are reporting serious drops in business. So are the attractions.
The turn comes at a time when Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is reporting a 3.4 per growth in arrivals into the Sangster International Airport, but the JHTA president said many of the travellers coming in are not necessarily tourists.
Familiarisation trips
"A large number of returning residents visiting their families and droves of travel agents who have been coming in on familiarisation trips are part of the statistics," he noted.
Stating that he was extremely concerned about the situation, particularly for the winter, Cummings, however, admitted that he was not disillusioned "because we have done the work that we are supposed to, both private and public sector, in terms of advertising and marketing".
He added: "Air seats have been secured, and the JTB's destination marketing goes back on the air next week, while the private sector was on the road working with tour operators and travel agencies this past month". janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
Published: Wednesday | October 7, 2009
Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer
Cummings
WESTERN BUREAU:
Visitor spending is at an all-time low and occupancy levels are now at 40 per cent across the board, says president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Wayne Cummings.
Jamaica's robust tourist industry has taken a U-turn, causing the JHTA president to describe the fall season as just that.
"This fall has fallen, the chicken has come home to roost in many ways and we are not seeing the business at all," Cummings said yesterday.
His comments were cemented by area chair of the JHTA Negril Chapter, Evelyn Smith, who revealed that occupancy levels in the 'Capital of Casual' were at 30 per cent, with some resorts reporting 10 and 15 per cent bookings, and unable to close their doors.
Staff rotations
However, many of them have started staff rotations with the hope that the winter season will be their saving grace.
It is not unusual for September and October, tagged 'shoulder months', to be slower than the others in relation to the island's tourism sector, but both Cummings and Smith concur that this same time last year the country was doing much better.
"Even though the world was on the decline, Jamaica was doing well with its arrivals into the hotels," argued Cummings. He said the island was just now feeling the pinch of the recession.
And this is evident in the closure of two hotels so far, the 320-room Iberostar Rose Hall and Sandals Inn in Montego Bay. Sandals Whitehouse, closed its doors earlier this year. A number of duty-free merchents are also facing closure, as their business
have nosedived, taking a 70 per cent hit in the process, while shops located in the hotels are reporting serious drops in business. So are the attractions.
The turn comes at a time when Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett is reporting a 3.4 per growth in arrivals into the Sangster International Airport, but the JHTA president said many of the travellers coming in are not necessarily tourists.
Familiarisation trips
"A large number of returning residents visiting their families and droves of travel agents who have been coming in on familiarisation trips are part of the statistics," he noted.
Stating that he was extremely concerned about the situation, particularly for the winter, Cummings, however, admitted that he was not disillusioned "because we have done the work that we are supposed to, both private and public sector, in terms of advertising and marketing".
He added: "Air seats have been secured, and the JTB's destination marketing goes back on the air next week, while the private sector was on the road working with tour operators and travel agencies this past month". janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com
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