ST JAMES, Jamaica – Minister without Portfolio in the Office of the Prime Minister, Floyd Green, is expressing confidence that the digitisation programme under the National Identification System (NIDS) will have a positive spin off on the tourism sector.

Green explained that when the e-gate system is introduced efficient processing of locals at immigration will afford the personnel more time to attend to visitors.

When the e-gate is introduced locals will be able to scan their passports and ultimately their national identification card.

“Importantly a part of our digitisation project includes passport and immigration services and are looking to digitise what we do in our immigration halls to introduce what they call e-gates over the next few years where people will now be able to literally scan their passports, hopefully overtime, scan their national IDs, and enter Jamaica without having to do any interpersonal interaction which will make us a lot more efficient,” Green explained.

“It’s about efficiency. If you are able to treat with your locals, then you can put more of your human resources to deal with your visitors. Once we get our immigration halls more efficient using technology it will augur well for tourism,” Green added.

He was speaking to OBSERVER ONLINE following a panel discussion during the World Free Zones Organization Annual International Conference and Exhibition held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Wednesday.

Horace Hines