Bartlett reports five per cent in stopover growth
Published:Monday | August 30, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Jamaica earned US$887 million through tourism during the period January to May, with US$275 million of that amount earned by Montego Bay, St James' tourism sector.
According to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, this revenue is the result of the 5.5 per cent growth in stopover arrivals to Jamaica for the five-month period, in which a total of 258,356 visitors were welcomed at hotels in Montego Bay.
"The positives we have been able to record in the face of global and national challenges have been a consequence of a total and concentrated effort on the part of all industry stakeholders," Bartlett declared.
"Even in the exceptional circumstances of a limited state of emergency centred in our capital city in May this year, it has been very gratifying to note that airport arrivals to Montego Bay remained positive throughout that difficult period."
Slow but sure
Bartlett was giving the keynote address at the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry quarterly luncheon at the Holiday Inn hotel on Friday.
He also revealed that during the month of July, airport data on stopover visitors indicated an increase of 3.4 per cent over the same period last year, while airport arrivals in the first three weeks of August are maintaining an upward movement with a three per cent increase over last year.
He also acknowledged the chamber's involvement in developing the growth, health and well-being of Jamaica's tourist industry.
"You have had a number of vocal champions from whom I am personally always happy to hear, whether on the subject of crime, infrastructure, community development, or the host of other issues that affect residents and visitors to this tourism centre," he added.
More to do
However, Bartlett noted that notwithstanding the advances that have been made to improve the Second City, much work remains to be done.
"Despite improved statistics, the crime that undermines the city's finest infrastructural development is still a major number-one concern. Now is the time for a cohesive, comprehensive push for social and economic changes that can allow us to validate our claim for Montego Bay as the 'complete resort'."
The minister's address came during the visit of Dr Cai Qi, adviser to the provincial government of Zhejiang province in China, and other Chinese representatives to the island.
Trade relations between China and Jamaica have been steadily deepening, with interest groups from the Chinese city of Hangzhou and the province of Zejiang visiting Montego Bay over the years to establish cooperation in industry and tourism.
The in-progress construction of the Montego Bay Conference Centre is a collaborative effort between the two countries, with the centre scheduled to host the Caribbean Marketplace in January 2011.