Multi-Destination Marketing Arrangement Close – Bartlett
By: , July 19, 2016The Key Point:
Photo: Garwin Davis
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett (left), addresses journalists after his tour of Ocho Rios, in St. Ann, recently. At right is Minister of Labour and Social Security, and member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Shahine Robinson.The Facts
- Speaking in a recent interview with JIS News the Minister informed that an agreement has already been signed with Cuba and he expects to ink a deal with Mexico before the end of July. Discussions are under way with the Dominican Republic.
- “The moment this happens, it would mean that the four major tourism destinations of the Caribbean would have signed multi-destination agreements, certainly by December (2016), which will bring a new opportunity into the region for collaboration,” he pointed out.
The Full Story
Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says Jamaica is close to finalising a multi-destination marketing arrangement with Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
Speaking in a recent interview with JIS News the Minister informed that an agreement has already been signed with Cuba and he expects to ink a deal with Mexico before the end of July. Discussions are under way with the Dominican Republic.
“We have talked about this at length, but I can safely tell you that the multi-destination marketing and tourism strategy is picking up steam in the region,” Minister Bartlett said.
“The moment this happens, it would mean that the four major tourism destinations of the Caribbean would have signed multi-destination agreements, certainly by December (2016), which will bring a new opportunity into the region for collaboration,” he pointed out.
He said the collaboration “will be at a level that has never been seen before” and will include joint marketing and joint airlift arrangements.
“We will also be looking at the critical implications in terms of harmonising key policies to enable greater access to the region and greater access to each other’s destinations,” he informed further.
“The whole issue of visa arrangements will also have to be examined. We also have to examine the matter of creating a single space so that pre-clearance arrangements could be looked at where, for example, if you arrive in Jamaica you would simultaneously be in domestic space in Cuba, Mexico and the Dominican Republic,” he said.
Mr. Bartlett noted that the move will drive new arrivals, build volume and create greater opportunities for growth.
He said that the region has to look at innovations in travel including e-visas.
“India, Australia and South Africa, for example, have been able to develop the platform that allows for visitors to go online and pay the requisite fees and get their printout visas to walk with,” he pointed out.
“We also have to look at this kind of innovation as we seek to build out visitor facilitation,” he added.