Jamaica to implement SITA’s digital travel declaration technology

Air transport IT specialist SITA is set to deploy its Digital Travel Declaration solution to help Jamaica’s Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA) clear passengers for travel pre-departure with ease.

The platform will enable passengers to submit all immigration, customs and health documentation needed for entry into Jamaica.

Currently, the Jamaican Government uses a separate platform to gather travellers’ immigration and customs data.

The deployment of SITA’s technology is said to help PICA officials consolidate these processes into one platform for travellers to submit all documents and data and get travel authorisation.

Using this technology, passengers’ travel documents will be verified and certified even before their arrival at the airport.

SITA Americas president Matthys Serfontein said: “We are extremely proud to support the Jamaican government in optimising their systems for welcoming travellers just as visitor numbers rapidly catch up to pre-pandemic levels.

“The benefits of Digital Travel Declaration in terms of added efficiency and simplicity are sure to last well into the long term.

“We applaud the ways Jamaica has endeavoured to continually refine its border processes with the help of new technologies, and we look forward to continuing our partnership.”

SITA’s Digital Travel Declaration allows passengers to avoid an airport’s long queues.

By implementing this technology, PICA aims to facilitate a safe and streamlined return to international travel in Jamaica as tourism recovers.

PCA CEO Andrew Wynter said: “We want to welcome visitors to Jamaica in the friendliest, safest and most straightforward way possible, and we are delighted to see visitors returning in great numbers.

“SITA has provided us with the opportunity to streamline our processes for entry to the country and offer a simpler experience to travellers while helping ensure the safety of everyone.

“Given Jamaica’s past successes implementing SITA’s innovative border solutions, I know the Digital Travel Declaration will be of great benefit to the Jamaican economic and governance strategies.”

Last month, Brazil’s São Paulo-Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) and RIOgaleão – Tom Jobim International Airport (RIOgaleão) (GIG) utilised SITA to upgrade their passenger processing technology.