KINGSTON, Jamaica – As Jamaica braces for the possible onslaught of Hurricane Matthew – now a Category 4 system – preparations are in high gear at the Ministry of Tourism to activate its two operations centres, which will coordinate emergency services for the local tourism sector.
The Tourism Emergency Operations Centres (TEOC), located at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston and Altamont West in Montego Bay, will be the focal points of the tourism sector’s coordination of disaster response and recovery activities should the hurricane impact the island.
In addition to being the official sources of information for the tourism sector, the Centres will disseminate warnings and bulletins received from the National Emergency Operations Centre; analyze and evaluate all data pertaining to emergency operations within the tourism sector as well as update local and international media.
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, gave the assurance that the Ministry and its agencies have taken all necessary precautions and are well prepared for the eventuality of a hurricane. “The TEOCs will provide important and timely information to stakeholders in the sector. I encourage all our tourism partners and Jamaicans in general to heed the hurricane warnings issued by the relevant authorities and take all the necessary precautions to keep safe during the possible passage of Hurricane Matthew,” said Minister Bartlett.
