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Jamaica: Tourism earnings continue to rise
WESTERN BUREAU: Jamaica’s uptick in cruise-ship visitors has kept the country’s tourist arrivals afloat, with a 13.6 per cent increase in the first eight months of the year, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has…
Jamaica’s tourism earnings have continued to rise with the country grossing almost US$1.48 billion during the first eight months of 2011. This was revealed by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. He said the figures indicate that Jamaica remains a very attractive destination in a very competitive tourism market.
This represents a 3.4 percent increase over the US$1.43 billion the country earned for the same period in 2010.
Bartlett announced the figures while addressing Sunday’s opening ceremony of the 21st Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) Tourism Trade Show now in progress at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.
Meanwhile, Bartlett said the tourism figures should be significantly boosted later this year when Copa Airlines introduces flights from South America.
He noted that even as Jamaica targets new markets, the Government will address issues such as visa restrictions for potential investors and visitors from countries in the Far East and Latin America.
Bartlett said the ministry of Foreign Affairs has been holding top level discussions aimed at eliminating visa requirements for visitors from a number of the targeted countries.
