Jamaica Takes Canada By Storm
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, accompanied by the organization’s director of tourism, Donovan White and the Jamaica Tourist Board’s (JTB) regional manager Canada, Angella Bennett were making the rounds in Toronto yesterday, talking to key suppliers to get a feel for where things are headed as the 2020 winter season fast approaches.
The island’s director of tourism, Donovan White told PressToday that the high powered tourism trio were talking with their partners here in Canada to make sure that everything was running smoothly and let them know how much they appreciated their support – past, present and future.
White noted that in 2020, Canadian operators will put an additional 21,400 air seats into Jamaica and they’re also reporting that bookings are ahead of last year. Leading White to observe: “We’re fairly confident that we’ll grow our arrivals [in 2020].”
As for travel agents, White made it clear that they continue to be one of the most important parts of the distribution network, telling Press Today that 50% of the travel around the world is still being organized and planned by agents.
And, said White: “We treasure the relationship with our Jamaica One Love [the destination’s agency specialist program] travel agency partners.”
As for Jamaica’s goal of welcoming half a million Canadians, White said that the destination remains on track to meet it. In 2019, he said that the island expects to welcome 420,000 Canadians, leaving the 500,000 mark clearly achievable.
Stay tuned, there’s lots more to come from Jamaica.
In the photo
Posing for the cameras during a stop at the Toronto offices of Press Today, from l to r, are Donovan White; Baxter Media’s David McClung; Angella Bennett; and Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett.
