MINISTER of Tourism Edmund Bartlett says that the phased reopening of Jamaica's borders to international travellers on June 15 was not just about tourism, but a matter of economic life or death.
Looking to the future, the tourism minister said as the country prepares for the return of cruise visitors later this year, the tourism ministry, Port Authority and the Ministry of Health, in full coordination with the Professor Gordon Shirley-chaired cruise recovery arm of the Tourism Recovery Taskforce, will outline the measures for the safe return of cruise tourism.
“Our marketing arm, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), has been doing an excellent job of inspiring confidence in both the local and international markets that Jamaica is a safe and secure destination for all.
He said that on December 2, 2019, a year and a half after leading a delegation of tourism officials into a meeting with senior executives of LATAM Airlines Group at their headquarters in, Santiago, Chile, Jamaica welcomed the arrival of the first of three weekly scheduled non-stop flights by the airline, between their major hub in Lima, Peru, and Montego Bay, Jamaica.
He noted that Jamaica participated in the 2019 Tourism Expo Japan, confirming the decision to re-enter that market, and since the expo has hosted numerous meetings and seminars with airlines and tour operators.
