Jamaica said it remains on target to reach its goal of $2 billion in tourism revenue by the end of the year, despite the global economic downturn.

In a Jamaica Observer report, Director of Tourism John Lynch said that tourism had raked in $1.4 billion through October and will reach the $2 billion figure during the winter season, which begins in mid-December.

Jamaica tourism topped $1.9 billion in revenue in 2008.

The Jamaica Tourist Board recently launched a series of marketing strategies to generate business, including a $10 million marketing campaign in major markets.

The initiatives include TV and radio advertising in the U.S., Canada and the U.K; a one-hour documentary on Jamaica to be aired on ABC and NBC within the next few weeks; and a Caribbean multinational business conference next weekend in Montego Bay, which will be attended by several Caribbean tourism ministers and members of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Lynch said that the airlift out of the U.S., Canada and the U.K. from Jan.1 to April 30 totals one million seats, 9% more than last winter.

Carriers with new service to Jamaica include US Airways, which launches service between Phoenix and Montego Bay on Dec. 17; JetBlue between Orlando and Montego Bay on Jan. 11, and AirTran from Baltimore to Montego Bay on Feb. 10.

British Airways started service from London Gatwick to Montego Bay in late October after an absence of seven years, and JetBlue began service from New York to Kingston on Oct. 30.