Jamaica Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett

At WTM London earlier this month Jamaica Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and Kenya Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife Najib Balala called for global oversight of travel advisories for destinations issued by various countries, because of the potentially devastating impact of negative advisories on tourism-dependent economies.

Some small companies, including a number in the Caribbean and Africa, have economies that are 90% dependent on tourism spend.

Old, negative advisories can remain on the Internet for years after the safety or security issues that led to them have been resolved.

The proposed global oversight body would give undeservedly disadvantaged countries a route to adjustment of inaccurate or out-of-date travel advisories.