Jamaica Enjoys Phenominal Growth In Tourists From Canada

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has said that the growth in tourism from Canada to Jamaica has been phenomenal.

"Three years ago, we were welcoming 163,000 Canadians to Jamaica, and last year we were just a few visitors shy of 300,000 Canadians," Mr. Bartlett told a packed room of over 200 Canadian travel agents, tour operators and airline partners, attending a Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) trade show and reception on Wednesday (September 22, 2010), at the Sutton Place Hotel, Vancouver, Canada.

The Minister expressed his appreciation for the partnership between the two countries and he thanked the travel partners for enabling Jamaica "to leap frog” over a number of older and more traditional destinations in the last three years.

In his speech he said that the target for Canada in 2010 is 330,000; for 2011, more than 350,000; for 2012, approximately 400,000; and by 2015 the number of Canadian visitors to Jamaica should reach 500,000.

The travel trade group was also given several pieces of positive news, including that TripAdvisor, a travel guide and research website, has named Jamaica number three out of the top 10 island getaways. Newsweek has named Jamaica in the top 50 places to live in terms of "education, health, quality of life, economic competitiveness, and political environment". Also, this coming winter season, there will be 69 weekly flights from Canada to Jamaica, representing a 25 per cent increase.

Director of Tourism and Chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), John Lynch, said that in the past six months Canadian arrivals have increased by more than eight per cent. This brings benefits to all sectors of the economy especially Jamaica accommodation.

"When we look at our numbers from Canada over a three-year period, we find we have seen a total growth of 76 per cent," Mr. Lynch told the group of travel partners and added, "We recognise that without you many Canadians would miss out on the pleasure of visiting our island home. We, therefore, want to publicly tell you that we appreciate your efforts to sell the destination."

Jamaica continues to deliver its promise of excellent vacation values to its guests by providing unique holiday experiences, which includes great accommodation opportunities in Jamaica villas and cottages and Jamaica apartments to suit all tastes, budget and group sizes.