ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) – Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Dr Wykeham McNeill, said there is no evidence of cancellation in tourist bookings as a result of the Zika virus (ZikV).

He noted that while the virus has been reported across the region, including in the United States, which is Jamaica’s largest tourism market, there has not been any confirmed cases of tourists cancelling their travel plans to the island.

In fact, he said that arrivals for the winter season continue to go well, with the figures showing an increase over the corresponding period last year.

 “We have anecdotally heard of persons with concerns, who have cancelled their trips, but for now, our arrivals are still ahead of last year. We are doing well and what we are doing is just monitoring it closely,” Dr McNeill told JIS News recently.

He said the Ministry continues to work with stakeholders in the industry to ramp up preparedness measures.

 “We have been in touch with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and all our partners. Everyone has come together and we are all working together to treat the condition in the best way it can be treated and to ensure that all measures that should be taken are being taken,” he told JIS News.

The Ministry is a key partner in the Government’s preparedness and response, contributing to fogging, vector control, and clean-up activities being undertaken by the Ministry of Health, particularly in the western and north-west regions.

The Ministry has also donated a bus to transport health workers as well as the persons who will be undertaking the ZikV public education campaign.