Jamaica opens South American market

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Wednesday June 1, 2011 – Jamaica has secured some 10,000 new airline seats out of the burgeoning South America travel market, improving the prospects for growing tourist arrivals to the island.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett announced yesterday that the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has forged arrangements with key South American tour operators and airlines to bring tourists to the island over the next six months.

“We were able to structure an arrangement which will be finalized to enable flights to begin from Brazil to Jamaica somewhere between November and December of this year. The critical importance of that arrangement was the partnership that we were able to forge with one of the largest tour operators in the Americas, CVC,” Minister Bartlett announced.

In addition to Brazil, an arrangement has been forged with Principales Air Lines (PAL) to operate direct flights out of Chile into Montego Bay and PRL Colombia SAS which will operate chartered flights out of Bogota and Medellin in Colombia directly into Montego Bay.

“We are excited about that and the key value of the South American market, for us, is that their winter is our summer and so during our shoulder months like September, October, November we can be assured of good traffic coming in during that time,” the Tourism Minister said as he explained the rationale of tapping the South American market.

In highlighting the significance of the South American market to boosting Jamaica’s tourism, Director of Tourism and Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board John Lynch pointed out that Brazil’s large population and vibrant economy alone holds much potential for attracting potential travellers.

Additionally, he said, the continent’s close proximity and established air links to parts of Africa also provides for opportunities to bringing visitors from other areas to Jamaica.

The Minister emphasized that this marketing thrust to capture tourists out of South America forms part of a strategic move to tap new emerging markets in an effort to boost tourist arrivals. He said the next stop would be Russia.