“Soon come” finally turned into “now come” as Jamaican government and tourism industry officials welcomed Canadian visitors back to the island for the first time in six months earlier this week with the arrival in Montego Bay of Air Canada flight 982 from Toronto, flush with 200 passengers and crew.
The airline’s first Dreamliner flight into the destination was celebrated with a water salute on the tarmac and passengers deplaned into a lively reception in the terminal where they were greeted by Jamaican tourism executives Nadine Spence, Area Chair of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and Odette Dyer, Regional Director of Tourism for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), as well as Montego Bay deputy mayor Richard Vernon.
“Canada is the second largest source market for Jamaica and the return of Canadian tourism in Jamaica (post pandemic restrictions) is welcome news for our country’s hotel partners, attractions, transportation providers, hospitality workers, and the thousands of individuals employed in our tourism related industries,” stated Jamaica tourism minister Edmund Bartlett.
Bartlett recently told reporters during a Zoom call that he was, despite the challenging pandemic setback, “incredibly optimistic” about the future of Jamaican tourism, and noted that 90% of planned tourism investments are “still on track,” including the addition of 4,800 new rooms by 2023 and 7,000 rooms by 2025 – all integral to the country’s “Blue Ocean” tourism strategy to return to pre-COVID levels of tourism within two years and to further attract five million visitors by 2025.
“I think at this time in the pandemic, this is huge vote of confidence in our island nation,” he said.
Moreover, he noted, that the island has already spent “billions” on infrastructure, including building highways, airport improvements, and the development of beach facilities (such as the recent opening of Harmony Beach Park in Montego Bay, Jamaica’s largest free public-access beach park), and the regeneration of heritage sites.
Additionally, with the JTB reporting the return service from both Air Canada and WestJet to Montego Bay this month after months of flight restrictions, it says more than 280,000 air seats have been secured from Canada to Jamaica so far for winter.
Virtual product showcase, July 20
Meanwhile, with bookings surging, according to the tourist board, amid the return of flight service and relaxation of some Canadian border protocols for vaccinated travellers, the JTB is inviting travel counsellors to join its inaugural Virtual Product Showcase on July 20 from 1 to 3 p.m.
The “destination immersion experience” will provide the latest island and specialist program updates from Canadian JTB staff, an opportunity to connect with travel suppliers, “some unique island fun,” plus games and giveaways, including chances to win complimentary hotel stays, island tours, and other prizes.
Hosted on Zoom, the event will include Air Canada Vacations, WestJet, Sunwing Vacations, TravelBrands, Ocean Hotels, Blue Diamond Resorts, Tryall Club, and Transat Tours, among dozens of participating suppliers.
“While we wish we could meet in person, this engaging and interactive platform will provide us with a unique opportunity to bring together agents from across the country to participate in an afternoon of destination education, networking, games and incredible prizes,” says the JTB’s regional director for Canada, Angella Bennett.
Jamaica director of tourism Donovan White adds, “In the current climate, the role of the travel advisor has become increasingly more important. We rely on their experience and their expertise to educate visitors on the protocols we have in place to protect them, as well as to make Jamaica such an alluring destination to many types of travellers… As the pent-up demand for travel begins to surface, now is the perfect time to learn about a new destination, or become re-aquainted!”
To pre-register for the Zoom event, click HERE.
Contest
The JTB is also inviting Canadian travel advisors to take part in a summer Short Story Contest. Agents are encouraged to take a trip down memory lane and write a short story about their most unforgettable Jamaican memories and experiences for a chance to win one of three cash prizes. The Jamaica Short contest is open until Aug 15; agents can enter their stories (1,000 words or less) HERE.