Jamaica's tourism high season has started with a "bang" according to tourism officials.KINGSTON, Jamaica, – Jamaica’s tourism high season has started with a “bang” according to tourism officials.
According to a release from the Ministry of Tourism, the first day of the winter tourist season – Wednesday, December 15, saw some 12,000 cruise ship passengers arrive on the island, providing what was described as a “shot in the arm” for the island’s cruise industry.
The passengers arrived at the Montego Bay and Ocho Rios cruise ship ports, where some 6,000 passengers disembarked, at each port from four vessels.
Commenting on the influx, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said: “The winter season has started with a major bang and this comes against the background of a 7% increase in visitor arrivals for the first two weeks of December 2010. The arrival of 6,000 passengers in Montego Bay and another 6,000 in Ocho Rios is certainly the largest number of cruise arrivals Jamaica has experienced in any one day for quite a while.”
Minister Bartlett underscored the significant economic effect the arrivals would have locally, noting that, “the country’s economy on a whole and the coffers of Ocho Rios and Montego Bay should benefit to the tune of close to US$1.6 million for the day. This should bring some cheer to industry partners as they look ahead to the Christmas season and beyond”.
Looking ahead for the rest of the season, Bartlett said: “The expectations are that Jamaica should see a 5% increase in arrivals to add to the 9.3% increase experienced last year. The season has started very strong and with the implementation of in-bound duty free shopping, Jamaica should see increased arrivals and of course earnings.” (JIS)
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