New immigration forms coming

Monique Grange, Assistant News Editor
The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre

Tourism Minister Dr. Wykeham McNeill says incoming immigration forms are to be redesigned, to reduce the time Jamaicans spend in the airport when returning to the island.

Dr. McNeill said the move forms part of plans to improve how Jamaicans are handled at the airports.

He said plans are also progressing to re-engineer outgoing immigration.

Dr. McNeill said computer equipment and software have been acquired to help enhance the airports’ border management control systems, to improve the flow of traffic.

He said the Tourism Enhancement Fund has committed US$852,000 over a five year period for the introduction of this system.

The tourism minister said testing of the system should start by September with full implementation by the start of the winter tourist season.

He said the programme is being spearheaded by the ministries of Tourism and National Security.

At the Tourism Summit in St. James last month, President of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association, Josef Fortsmayr, had urged officials to find ways to make arriving into the island easier.

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