THE Jamaican Government has conditionally waived visa requirements for tourists from China travelling to the island as it moves to boost visitor arrivals from that Asian country.
The announcement came yesterday from Tourism and Entertainment Minister Wykeham McNeill during the post-Cabinet press briefing. It came a day after Government gave the clearest indication yet that the Chinese will get the go ahead to develop a trans-shipment port on the Goat Islands, despite protests.
"In our efforts to ease the difficulties experienced while harnessing the market potential, Cabinet has approved the conditional waiver of visa requirements for nationals of the People's Republic of China who travel to Jamaica for tourism purposes for 30 days or less," McNeill said.
What now obtains is that, in many cases, Chinese citizens have to fly long distances to the Jamaican embassy in Beijing to apply for a visa. That, according to McNeill, has thwarted their efforts to travel to the island.
Some 2,420 visitors arrived here from China last year, a 15 per cent increase when compared to 2012. There was an increase of 24 per cent in 2012 over 2011.
In 2012, Chinese nationals spent US$102 billion on outbound travel, helping the country earn the classification as the leading tourism source market in the world. more
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