Task force to examine impact of smoking ban on tourism

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC - With the recent implementation of a ban on smoking in public places, Tourism Minister, Dr. Wykeham McNeil has announced that an inter-ministry task force will take a look at concerns about implications of the ban in the hotel sector. The decision to convene the task force was made at a meeting on Friday between representatives of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Tourism Ministry and the Health Ministry. The hotel sector has complained that the regulations could cause a major fall out in the sector. Based on the definitions in the regulations, hotels fall into the category of a workplace and a public place – as a result no smoking would be allowed on resorts.