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India in focus as Jamaica’s Tourism Minister cements new markets for growth

Jamaica’s Tourism Minister Hon’ble Edmund Bartlett is placing special focus on the world’s most populated country, India, to attract visitors in the coming years as part of a renewed campaign to diversify Jamaica’s tourist markets. 

This was reported by Jamaica Observer, the Caribbean nation’s leading media publication.

Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Director of Tourism, Donovan White with Rajeev Nangia, COO, TRAC Representations and Kavi Ghei, Chairman, TRAC Representations
Jamaica Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Director of Tourism, Donovan White with Rajeev Nangia, COO, TRAC Representations and Kavi Ghei, Chairman, TRAC Representations.

Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who led the top-line delegation at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Stall at the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, announced: “The Indian market initiatives are now fully on stream. We met with our partners and are beginning engagements later this year. There is a huge market for weddings, there is a confluence of cricket, a rapidly growing middle and upper middle class, over time better flight connectivity, and a very active Indian community in Jamaica itself will drive growth from this increasingly lucrative market.”

Bartlett arrived in Dubai on the weekend ahead for the Arabian Travel Market, the largest tourism tradeshow in the Middle East, accompanied by high-ranking team members director of tourism, Donovan White and senior advisor and strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, Delano Seiveright.

Jamaica’s new markets initiatives were initially heavily focused on South America for which significant gains were made just before the COVID-19 pandemic with new nonstop flights by South America’s largest air carrier LATAM between Lima, Peru and Montego Bay, and up to 11 weekly flights between Panama City and Jamaica by COPA. The pandemic curbed those gains with Bartlett recently mandating his team to re-engage new markets growth efforts.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Tourist Board are now focused on rebuilding the South American tourist markets, with a specific focus on Chile, Argentina, Colombia and Peru and are also placing special attention on India and sections of the Middle East for new market growth.

Bartlett’s Dubai itinerary includeded a host of meetings, including with top government and private sector leaders as well as investors.

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