KINGSTON, JAMAICA – October 26, 2020 – Anticipation is building for the launch of Jamaica Cares next month, a pioneering traveler protection and emergency services program designed to redefine visitor safety. This groundbreaking initiative offers unparalleled protection and access to emergency medical and crisis response services, covering a spectrum of events, including natural disasters. The Jamaica Cares Program is a collaborative effort, expertly coordinated and managed by the Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre, with the robust backing of the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council, Global Rescue, and prominent international and national insurance providers.
For a nominal fee of $40 USD, Jamaica Cares provides an essential layer of compulsory traveler protection and access to vital emergency medical services. This comprehensive coverage includes:
- Expert case management, seamless transport logistics, efficient field rescue operations, prompt evacuation, and repatriation services for a wide range of medical emergencies, explicitly including COVID-19 and other crises, extending to natural disasters.
- Robust international health coverage extending up to $100,000 USD for visitors during their travel to and from Jamaica.
- Comprehensive on-island health coverage reaching up to $50,000 USD for medical needs within Jamaica.
Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Co-chairman of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre, emphasized the program’s significance, stating, “Jamaica Cares addresses a critical gap in the travel industry by delivering essential primary medical coverage and medical evacuation services. This mandatory program is designed to comprehensively enhance traveler protection from departure to return. Travelers gain peace of mind knowing they are protected, and that fellow travelers are also under this safety umbrella. This assurance is paramount in fostering traveler confidence as they resume their journeys.”
Dr. Taleb Rifai, Former Secretary General of the UNWTO and Co-Chair of both the Centre and the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council, highlighted Jamaica’s leadership, noting, “Jamaica stands as the first nation to spearhead a partnership for such a comprehensive pandemic safety response program. Visitors to Jamaica benefit from enhanced preparedness and protection through this collaborative framework, expertly facilitated by the Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre, working alongside a leading travel crisis management provider and two esteemed travel health insurance firms.”
Professor Lloyd Waller, the Executive Director of the Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre, reinforced the dual focus of the program: “Our responsibility extends to safeguarding both our valued visitors and the residents of Jamaica.”
The seamless integration of the compulsory fee into the Travel Authorization application process ensures automatic enrollment in the Jamaica Cares program. This mandatory participation applies to all non-Jamaican passport holders, ensuring a broad safety net.
Traveler sentiment consistently underscores a strong willingness to invest in enhanced safety measures during travel. A Price Waterhouse Coopers international traveler sentiment survey revealed that safety is a leading factor in travel decisions, with consumers prepared to pay for it. Echoing this, a Global Rescue survey of over 2,200 frequent travelers demonstrated overwhelming agreement (over 90%) that they would feel more secure if they – and all travelers – had access to services and protections for medical emergencies, including COVID-19, and comprehensive door-to-door emergency coverage.
Dan Richards, CEO of Global Rescue, detailed their operational readiness: “In the event of a medical emergency, including COVID-19, Global Rescue stands ready to support Jamaican authorities in implementing established emergency action plans. This includes providing access to crucial case management, transport logistics, evacuation and repatriation for any medical emergency, COVID-19 included, and continuous monitoring from initial diagnosis through to safe repatriation.”
Gloria Guevara, WTTC President & CEO, lauded the initiative, stating: “I commend all those involved in developing and launching the Jamaica Cares program. This vital program will undoubtedly play a key role in restoring traveler confidence and accelerating the recovery of the Travel & Tourism sector.”
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About Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre
The Global Tourism Resilience Crisis Management Centre is dedicated to serving the global travel industry by providing resources and strategies for crisis response planning, recovery, and building resilience. The Resilience Council acts as a vital network and forum, uniting governments and businesses from the public and private sectors. This collaboration fosters the development of sustainable frameworks that support business growth and stability in the face of global challenges. For further details, please click here. For media inquiries, contact Prof. Lloyd Waller, Executive Director, at [email protected].
About the Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council
The Global Travel and Tourism Resilience Council is committed to supporting the worldwide travel industry by facilitating essential planning and preparedness for crisis response, recovery, and resilience. For more information, please click here. For media inquiries, contact Laurie Myers at +1 949 742-9648 or via email at [email protected].
About Global Rescue
Global Rescue is recognized as the world’s leading provider of medical, security, evacuation, and travel risk management services. Established in 2004, Global Rescue maintains exclusive partnerships with the Johns Hopkins Emergency Medicine Division of Special Operations and Elite Medical Group. Global Rescue is committed to delivering best-in-class services, proactively identifying, diligently monitoring, and effectively responding to client medical and security crises. For Global Rescue member services inquiries, please contact [email protected] or call +1 617.459.4200.
