Tourism Minister says Caribbean Travel Marketplace a Resounding Success

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has hailed the just concluded Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014 as a “resounding success” for Jamaica.

He said that the regional tourism trade show event held from January 12 to 14 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, enjoyed “very good attendance and support from across the Caribbean region”.

He told JIS News that the local team was able to successfully demonstrate that Jamaica is on a growth trajectory, both in terms of visitor arrivals and investments in hotel properties.

“I have received many positive reports about the levels of satisfaction of the general delegates and warm commendations from colleague Ministers of Tourism. I welcome the opportunity to thank all concerned for making this event as successful as it was,” Dr. McNeill said.

President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Evelyn Smith, said that the feedback from the organisation’s members, who attended and participated in the trade show, has been very positive.

“They have reported that they have had very good appointments and interest in the variety and the diversity of the attractions and offerings. We are also pleased that this year, we were able to push and have included for the very first time in Caribbean Travel Marketplace, a mini-linkages event,” she told JIS News.

The mini-linkages feature, which involved collaboration with the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA), afforded manufacturers the opportunity to interact with suppliers from other Caribbean destinations.

“This interaction was designed for players/hoteliers from other Caribbean destinations and to let them know that here is Jamaica, one of their sister nations, which has the ability to produce this item or that item…this was good as a start and we hope to be able to build on that,” Mrs. Smith said.

She urged all Jamaicans never to lose sight of the fact that excellence is the way forward for the island’s tourism sector.

“That is what we need to always push forward, making sure that we expose that excellence that we have in every sort of sub-sector.  There must be that continued, cohesive effort to expose our tour operators, travel agents, as well as our media partners, so that they know what is out there,” the JHTA President told JIS News.