Jamaica says ‘thanks’ to its Canadian partners and friends
“My heart is full tonight,” observed Angella Bennett, regional director Canada for the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) as she welcomed the destination’s partners and friends for an evening of appreciation at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto’s Yorkville district.
Of the 60 travel trade partners and members of the diaspora, Bennett said that “you are my favourite people in Canada,” noting that the evening was a celebration of the “remarkable success of Brand Jamaica” and a heartfelt “thank you” to the people who have helped elevate the brand globally.
Praising Bennett and her team for the work they have been doing here in Canada, Jamaica’s director of tourism, Donovan White told those attending that Jamaica has experienced a “tourism renaissance” that has made it a “global tourism powerhouse.”
In 2023, White told his audience that Jamaica welcomed 4.1 million visitors and in 2024 that increased to 4.2 million, earning the island US$4.2 billion in revenues.
Yet while tourism is Jamaica’s largest foreign exchange earner, White made it clear that it’s not just about the numbers, it’s about the lives that have and are being changed by the industry, pointing to the jobs and new opportunities that it offers.
The director of tourism emphasized that today, Jamaica is more than a beach destination, offering its visitors opportunities to discover its culture, explore its heritage, sample its cuisine and, yes, most certainly yes, immerse oneself into its music.
Jamaica, White noted, has also diversified its product, offering ecotourism, sports, wellness, culinary and many more options that cater to a wider audience from around the world as it taps into new markets in Latin America, India and the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).
White also made it clear that everyone attending was a critical part of Jamaica’s success and he thanked them for all of their efforts.
As well, the audience was also treated to a look at a major new development, The Pinnacle in Montego Bay, with Dominique Silvera offering some highlights of what the project was all about.
Along with recognizing and thanking its influencer partners and members of the diaspora, the JTB recognized its tour operator partners, including Air Canada Vacations, Sunwing, WestJet Vacations, TravelBrands and Transat.
