TORONTO — The cancellation of winter sun flights on all four of Canada’s major airlines will certainly be a big blow to the Caribbean, particularly Jamaica, which relies heavily on Canada as its second largest source market.

The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) says it is “disappointed” by the Canadian government’s announcement on Jan. 29 regarding new restrictions on international travel, which include the cancellation of all flights to the Caribbean and Mexico through April 30. This, says the JTB, “will undoubtedly impact the country’s tourism industry during the peak winter travel season.”

The JTB stresses that the island has been a global leader in managing and mitigating the spread of COVID-19 from the outset of the pandemic, and that the Ministry of Health has implemented stringent protocols to protect both local residents and travellers.

In an official statement, the JTB added: “Jamaica’s tourism industry remains resilient and optimistic and we look forward to hosting Canadian travellers on the island once again when airlift resumes this spring.