Jamaica - New Member of the World Travel and Tourism Council

Jamaica has been formally invited to be part of the executive board of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), which is headquartered at London.

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister, the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who disclosed this news said that this was the first time Jamaica had received this honour and that he would be joining this prestigious position in January this year. He also informed that he would be representing South and North Central America, as well as the Caribbean.

The WTTC is a group from the private sector and represents travel and tourism interests in all participating countries. The interest areas include airlines, accommodation, tour operators and distributors.

The group will meet to discuss a wide range of issues that impact tourism globally. The WTTC also works with the Oxford Economics Group, which provides global industry, economic and business analysis through research.

Mr Bartlett said that, being a part of the WTTC, Jamaica would be better able to access relationships with other countries with which they are now dealing. Also, the country would be better positioned to promote itself as a leading tourist destination in the world, alongside the other great global destinations.

Meanwhile the official High Season set off with a bang with the island welcoming more than 12,000 cruise ship passengers who arrived on Wednesday 15 December. The minister has underscored the significant economic effect the arrivals would have locally, and more specifically to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay where the cruise ships and air passengers arrived. He said that the arrivals would benefit to the tune of close to US$1.6 million for the day and that these numbers should “bring some cheer to industry partners as they look ahead to the Christmas season and beyond”.

Jamaica vacation rentals, comprising private Jamaica villas and Jamaica apartments, within proximity of Ocho Rios, are also upbeat about the new business opportunities that the tourist arrivals are bringing.