Jamaica Tourism Can Do its Best, Says Minister

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says the sector has not only been holding its own in the face of a global economic downturn, but it has the potential to come out of the crisis in a better position than its Caribbean neighbors.

He says the sector has suffered very little disruption as the crisis drags on, contending that airlines and other tourism stakeholders have shown confidence in destination Jamaica. Minister Bartlett noted that despite cuts in aviation activity across the globe, no airline has discontinued their charter or scheduled flights into Jamaica for the winter season.

“For this winter, despite all of the prognostications of great downturn, and we are not expecting to be immune from that, Jamaica still has one million air-seats out of the markets of the world, some 750,000 out of the United States of America alone, 173,000 out of Canada, and 139,000 out of the United Kingdom,” he said.

The Tourism Minister was adamant that Jamaica is best situated, among all Caribbean destinations, to weather the storm. “Jamaica has more than 157 attractions, which is more than all the other Caribbean islands combined,” he said.

Mr. Bartlett pointed out that the island continues to show growth in the sector in every month, except for July, and credited Jamaica’s focus on infrastructural development and diversification, as key factors that would help to lessen the effects of the global economic challenges.

“The government of Jamaica has emphasized diversification of the industry in its stated program for tourism development,” he said, citing faith-based tourism, health and wellness and sports tourism, as well as the continued promotion of Jamaica as a honeymoon and wedding destination, as some of the non-traditional areas primed for future growth,” Mr. Bartlett added.

The Tourism Minister has further encouraged Jamaicans living overseas to consider coming home for vacation and to continue to promote the country as the best tourist destination. Meantime, Prime Minister, Bruce Golding has called on stakeholders in the sector to work with government to ensure the sustainability of the industry.