Jamaica Gleaner

Visitors Evacuated

WESTERN BUREAU:
With Hurricane Ivan on a collision path with Jamaica, British Tour Operators, American Operator, Apple Vacations and Air Canada Vacations have evacuated thousands of tourists from Jamaica.

The British tourists were relocated to hotels in the Dominican Republic, while Apple Vacation's charter flew home some 170 passengers to Chicago, Illinois
, in the United States.

Some the island's largest buyers involved in the evacuation exercise included Thomson Holidays, Thomas Cook, Unijet, First Choice and My Travel.

My Travel, confirmed that 1,120 of their passengers booked into hotels in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Negril and Runaway Bay were scheduled to depart for the Spanish speaking country late Thursday afternoon.

"Our only challenge is getting them from the various properties to the airport," said a source at the company.

The exodus has impacted mainly on the island's hotels and properties such as Point Village which was experiencing 75- 85 percent occupancy levels up to this weekend, will finish the week with a massive drop in room count.

At the 420-room Riu Hotels and Resort and the Riu Tropical Bay, 300 persons were evacuated, but there are people who have opted to stay, said the resorts' Director of Sales, Angella Bennett.

The 488-room Wyndham Rose Hall has also experienced check outs and cancellations, but the resorts' hotel manager, Carol Bourke said she was much more concerned about the safety of her guests and staff at this time. "We will count our losses afterwards."

While many could not say how much they had loss as a result of the Hurricane, they were busy spending millions on plywood, screws, nails, lumber and drills to batten up doors and windows in their properties. One hardware dealer estimated that the Montego Bay tourism entities have spent close to $120 million on goods.

In the meantime long lines at gas stations, supermarkets, hardware stores and bakeries typified frantic scenes in the tourism capital. Gas station operators, supermarket staff and convenience store managers reported brisk business from as early as 7:00am and for some 24-hour operations, steady business since mid afternoon Wednesday.

A number of large supermarkets including SuperPlus Fairview reported that they had run out of some basic items including bread and water but was expecting supplies later in the day.
Scores of persons could be seen hurrying from one place to the other most armed with plastic bags of supplies and there was a feeling that no one was taking the impending storm lightly.

Traffic in the city crept along slowly up to early afternoon as lines at service stations snake out into the roads. Robert Walden manager for the Texaco Service Station at Fair View Shopping Centre told the Gleaner they had seen increased numbers of person filling their tanks since Wednesday but the demand slacked off but picked up back early Thursday and staff was kept busy.

The situation was similar at the 24-hour Esso Service station on Howard Cooke Boulevard where one pump attendant told the Gleaner they had seen long lines since very early in the morning.

Persons who spoke to the Gleaner while carrying out their duties or chores, appeared apprehensive and some even admitted to being scared as they are not sure what to expect.

Fontana Pharmacy also reported brisk business and one supervisor told the Gleaner shoppers were stocking up on supplies of candles, flashlights, batteries and other basic neccessities.