Tourism Minister Optimistic About Summer Season

Tourism Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is optimistic of a strong summer season, coming on the heels of a successful winter, where there was a two per cent increase in tourist arrivals.

“We are doing well. We had a good winter season where we were up two per cent. Our bookings continue to be strong…this month (July) is looking very good,” he stated in an interview with JIS News.

He said that projections for the fall are also strong, noting that the marketing and promotional programmes are advanced.

The Tourism Minister is confident that the push the country will receive from the ‘Jamrock Summer 90 days – 90 ways’ promotion, will result in increased visitor arrivals.

He said that the promotion, which was launched in Montego Bay on Wednesday, July 16, will form another plank of the marketing plan for the country and so far, the response in the marketplace has been very positive.

The Tourism Minister stated that Jamaica remains a very attractive tourist destination for both the visitor and the investor.

“Right now Jamaica is hot…we are seeing great investments in the country’s tourism product, people are coming and are enquiring about new investments…both local and overseas and if we continue like this, our future will be good”.

“While we are having some success with our economic programme, it is predicated on actual growth in the economy and tourism is one of the areas, which we are going to target in order to achieve that growth,” he added.