MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica – The extremely anticipated Jamaica Product Trade (JAPEX) returned in-person September 11 – 13 to Montego Bay for the primary time since 2019 and organizers are hailing it as successful. Held on the Montego Bay Conference Centre, it offered networking, panel discussions, tourism product updates and extra for attending media, journey brokers, tour operators and tourism trade companions from throughout the globe with locations represented together with the U.S., U.Ok., Canada, Latin America, Europe, India, Japan, and the Caribbean.
Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett
“As Jamaica’s tourism sector continues its robust restoration, it was deeply gratifying to see the return of JAPEX met with such enthusiasm and acclaim,” stated the Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica. “The chance to share information and details about Jamaica whereas showcasing all that the vacation spot has to supply guests was notably welcome. We have been very happy to see the occasion so well-attended and hope that our trade companions discovered much more about what makes our island so distinctive and interesting for vacationers.”
JAPEX 2023 Highlights
The Jamaica Vacationer Board sales space at JAPEX in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
JAPEX kicked off with an academic session on subjects together with: what’s new on island; Gen AI; vacation spot advertising and marketing; focusing on the well being and wellness market; and interesting the Diaspora. Later that night, attendees have been handled to a Welcome Reception sponsored by Chukka Ocean Outpost, Sandy Bay, that includes stay leisure, music and enjoyable.
Over the next two days, JAPEX was in full swing with a busy commerce present flooring whereas varied excursions and actions have been scheduled for attendees together with a particular breakfast for media with Minister Bartlett. The occasion concluded with a musical celebration, meals and drinks hosted by Sandals Montego Bay that was loved by all.
Among the many information shared about Jamaica, Minister Bartlett introduced that Jamaica could have a complete of 1.1 million scheduled worldwide airline seats this fall, the biggest quantity the vacation spot has ever acquired for the interval. He additionally famous key new accommodations scheduled to open in 2024, together with the primary 1,000 rooms of the two,000-room Princess Lodge in Hanover, the 650-room Riu Palace Aquarelle in Falmouth and the 450-room Unico in Montego Bay.
Vacation spot Earnings Up Considerably
“For January by August 2023, vacation spot earnings grew by some U.S. $400 million {dollars} or 16.2% over the identical interval in 2019 to $2.9 billion in earnings,” added Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica Vacationer Board. “So, we’re extraordinarily ecstatic that we’re rising in the best locations and rising steadily. This 12 months, our forecast for stopover guests will improve over 2019 by 5% to 2.814 million in comparison with 2.68 million and we’re projecting U.S. $4.2 billion in earnings.”
With the continued progress of Jamaica’s tourism sector and an rising variety of worldwide guests flocking to the island, there are additionally quite a few infrastructure developments underway. These embody enlargement and modernization at Sangster Worldwide Airport and Norman Manley Worldwide Airport in addition to new freeway development tasks designed to enhance visitors move and open extra areas of the island to tourism.
St. Thomas Being Positioned because the Subsequent Frontier for Tourism Growth in Jamaica
