Jamaica is set to offer “first-of-its kind” traveller protection and emergency medical and crisis response services under a new insurance scheme.
The country’s Jamaica Cares programme is a partnership with the Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre [GTRCMC], with support from the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council, Global Rescue and international and national insurance companies.
For $40 USD, Jamaica Cares provides visitors access to compulsory traveller protection and emergency medical services, which includes:
Tourists will be provided with an information package and emergency contact details as they conclude their application for permission to travel to Jamaica.
The compulsory fee will be included as part of the country’s Travel Authorization application on visitjamaica.com, triggering automatic participation in the Jamaica Cares programme.
Participation is mandatory for all non-Jamaican passport holders.
Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica minister for tourism and co-chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, said: “Jamaica Cares is a comprehensive, mandatory programme that delivers traveller protection from the time they leave home until returning.
“It is a revolutionary and ground-breaking initiative authored and driven by the GTRCMC that will safeguard and protect the Jamaican tourist product and citizens of Jamaica.”