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Fact Sheet

The "Tourism Enhancement Act, 2004" was finalized December 22nd 2004.

This Act provides the legal basis for the Ministry of Industry and Tourism to establish a mechanism for the collection of a small fee from incoming airline and cruise passengers that will be placed into a dedicated fund to be used for the sole purpose of implementing the recommendations emanating from the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development, 2002.

Specifically, the Act allows for:

  1. A Tourism Enhancement Fee of US$10.00 to be charged to incoming airline passengers and US$2.00 to be charged to cruise passengers.
  2. The monies collected to be paid into a dedicated Tourism Enhancement Fund established as a body corporate falling under the auspices of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism.
  3. The establishment of a management framework, required for policy and general administration of the affairs of the Tourism Enhancement Fund and for co-ordinating the implementation of the various projects and programmes. This will include a Board of Management of the Fund reporting to the Minister of Industry and Tourism and a Project Management Unit established within the Ministry.

A Board of Directors consisting of thirteen (13) members was appointed by the Minister and approved by Cabinet on January 31, 2005.

Information on the ticket code is already in the marketplace. The code is HG. Collection of the Tourism Enhancement fee from incoming airline passengers began May 1, 2005.

Please note the information overleaf:

  1. Name of Fee: Tourism Enhancement Fee
  2. Effective Date: 1st May 2005
    Tickets Issued on/after 1st May 2005
    For Travel on/after 1st May 2005
  3. Purpose: Government fund to implement Tourism Projects and Programmes.
  4. Amount: International Arrival US $10.00
    NB: The Fee only applies to passengers whose travel originates outside of Jamaica for travel to Jamaica and whose ultimate final destination is to a point outside of Jamaica including point of origin.
  5. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been contracted to collect the fees from the airlines.
  6. The Tourism Enhancement Fee is to be collected at point of sale.
  7. The charter carrier is responsible for the remittance and the bill will be routed through the handling company.
  8. Exemptions:
    • Infants (children under 2)
    • Diplomats
    • Airline Crew on Duty
    • Transit/Transfer Passengers (24 hours)
    • Others: Travellers who fall within a category of travelers prescribed by the Minister of Tourism.

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