I was reading an article in The Gleaner of Thursday, April 17, and was alarmed to find that the current minister of tourism seems to be suggesting that Chinese tourists could significantly impact our economy. I find this very ludicrous since at a time when most countries are enforcing a closed-border policy to Chinese and other nationals we are seeking to forge even greater ties.

How many chinese visitors?

Be honest now, for those of us who take the occasional vacation, how many Chinese nationals have you ever met. Or, let me put the question to the hoteliers, how many stopover Chinese tourists have vacationed at your property in recent times to justify Air Jamaica flying directly to China at a time when human smuggling is at the forefront of every security policy.

Generally, when Chinese visits our shores, it's not for vacation. The average Chinese, unlike other nationals, are workers. Does Jamaica really need more grocery shops where our very people, to secure a living, must work for six days in inhumane conditions.

In Jamaican language, "when dem come yah dem nah plan fi lef ya". Jamaica for Jamaicans should be our mantra .We have enough, hustlers and shopkeepers in Jamaica already. Put Air Jamaica where real tourists are like Japan since the Japanese have money to spend anyway. God bless you all.

- Shellian Stamp, Portland, Via Go-Jamaica