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“EXCELLENCE THROUGH KNOWLEDGE” P A G E 39 Should Tourists and their Pet Dogs be Allowed to Vacation Together in Jamaica? The United States of America provides the largest number of tourists to Jamaica on an annual basis and is therefore our main market for tourists. Pet-Friendly hotels have been and continue to be a growing trend in most developed countries, including the United States. The growth in Pet- Friendly hotels is being driven by the humanization of animals as well as the high costs to board animals when pet owners take vacations. Several countries in the Caribbean, including St. Lucia, Dominica, and The Cayman Islands, use a Pet Passport system, which allows dogs that meet the requisite conditions - such as having a microchip with evidence of relevant treatments - to be allowed into the country without any quarantine. Jamaica is still enforcing the 1948 Animals (Diseases and Importation) Act whereby dogs can only be imported directly from Great Britain, Northern Ireland, or the Republic of Erie. The original intention of the 1948 law was to guard against rabies. Dogs from these rabies-free countries are allowed entry, but still have to be quarantined for a 14 day period. Interviews and surveys were conducted with hoteliers and other members of the hospitality and tourism industry across Jamaica. There was no consensus among hoteliers from Negril, Montego Bay, and Ocho Rios. However, most were not opposed to the concept of a dog friendly hotel. As it related to their specific properties, many needed more details on the actual operations and its impact on other guest before they would fully commit to offering such services. Research was also conducted with the membership of the Jamaica Veterinary Association and 97 per cent of the respondents supported a Pet Passport model as used in St. Lucia to be implemented in Jamaica. Hoteliers in St. Lucia, Dominica, and The Cayman Islands were surveyed and, although they have a modern Pet passport system, none of these countries were capitalizing on this system and have not positioned themselves as Pet-Friendly destinations. TwentytwoPet-FriendlyhotelswerevisitedinCanadaanddiscussionsheldwithSeniorManagement of Canadian hotel chains. Based on the Canadian experience, two (2) to five (5) percent of hotel guests in the summer months travel with pets, primarily with a dog. The Pet Passport system model used with other controls provides sufficient safe guards against importing a dog with rabies. Therefore, it is being recommended that Jamaica’s 1948 Animal (Diseases and Importation) Act be amended. The retention of this Act in its present form is a major impediment to establishing “Dog Friendly” hotels in Jamaica. Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture have indicated that the law is in the process of being amended. The Researchers were not privy as to what form the amendments would take. In addition, it is also being recommended that aspects of the Public Health Act be amended, to allow dogs under certain guidelines s in public spaces such as restaurants. Furthermore, a culture change would be needed by hotel staff to get them to appreciate the importance of caring for the dogs and not just the dogs’ owners. Nigel Cooper and Deanna Marchalleck College of Business & Management