Jamaica looks to China for business
BEIJING – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has become his country’s first cabinet minister to address the prestigious Chinese Outbound Travel and Tourism Market (COTTM) .
The tourism minister has been in Beijing with a delegation of Jamaican tourism representatives to promote travel to Jamaica from China.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of COTTM, the tourism minister underscored the fact that Chinese visitors first came to Jamaica in 1854 and established a significant community on the island.
“China is a market of great importance to Jamaica, and we will continue to work to strengthen the ties between our two countries,†he said.
Relations took a big step forward in 2005 when Jamaica was granted Approved Destination Status and the island country has been active in engaging the outbound travel trade from China, a critical part of Jamaica’s strategic tourism plan.
In 2007, Jamaica recorded its best year for arrivals, welcoming over 1.7 million stay-over visitors and an almost equal number of cruise passengers.
With its geographic position, Jamaica plans to become the strategic hub to the Caribbean and America from Asia and the Middle East, and will start by providing a gateway for Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 aircraft in its part of the world.
Ian Jarrett
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