Normalcy has returned to the tourism sector after Jamaica was spared the brunt of Hurricane Matthew which yesterday slammed into Haiti.

Yesterday, the Meteorological Office discontinued the tropical storm warning it had placed on Jamaica Monday evening, noting that severe flooding was less likely as the system moved further away from Jamaica.

The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has scaled down activities at the National Emergency Operation Centre to Level One activation, in light of the reduction in the threat level of Hurricane Matthew. Consequently, the Tourism Emergency Operations Centre, located at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, has now been deactivated.

The Sangster International Airport continues normal operations while the Norman Manley International Airport returned to regular operations at midday yesterday. All sea- ports were also scheduled to reopen at 3:00 pm yesterday, while cruise ships are scheduled to arrive in port today.

While commending tourism partners for being vigilant during the passage of Matthew, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett emphasised that “tourism activities are now back to normal as the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association has outlined that there have been no reports of damage to tourism entities and all tourism partners are back to regular operations”.

“Normalcy is also returning to the wider economy as all government ministries, departments and agencies reopened at 10:00 am today (yesterday) and local businesses are returning to normal operations. The public transportation system also resumed a limited service today (yesterday), so Jamaica is definitely opened for business,” he added.