NEW YORK -- Jamaica's tourism fortunes are rising on all fronts --
and above expectations -- according to newly appointed officials at
the island's tourist board.
With visitor numbers climbing, airlift up, crime down, hotels
full and infrastructure expanding, Jamaica appears to be weathering
the world's political and economic storms better than other similar
destinations.
"We see encouraging signs that we're on a road to recovery,"
said Dennis Morrison, chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board
(JTB).
Stopover arrivals -- which for all of 2002 were nearly flat, at
-1% -- in January totaled 97,796, a 15.7% rise compared with the
same month a year before; from Feb. 1 to 21, stopovers were up 3.5%
over 2002 numbers and 2.6% above the record February 2001. One
million cruise passengers are expected this year, up 20% from
2002.
"Jamaica has had one of the lowest rates of decline in stopover
visitor arrivals in the Caribbean," said Morrison.
On the airlift front, the island added 52,000 seats, said Paul
Pennicook, the new director of tourism; service was expanded from
the U.S. by Air Jamaica, American Trans Air, Continental, Delta and
US Airways.
"We regard this as a major vote of confidence," said Pennicook,
former president and CEO of Couples Resorts.
Both Pennicook and Morrison also hailed infrastructure
improvements and a sharp drop in crime as further boosts.
For example, a new north coast highway from Montego Bay to
Negril has reduced travel time from two hours to 45 minutes, and a
similar road to Ocho Rios should open by early 2004.
Josef Forstmayr, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist
Association, said it's all part of an effort "to establish Montego
Bay as a strong cruise port with good access to other resorts."
Vancouver Airport Services of Canada was retained to modernize
and expand Montego Bay's Sangster Airport, and a marina will open
at Port Antonio for new cruise traffic.
Ever-more jittery travelers also can rest assured that Jamaica
is much safer than before, officials noted; crime was reduced by
some 20% in January, thanks to new initiatives launched last
year.
Forstmayr said hotel occupancy is "amazingly good, considering
where we came from."
Looking ahead, later this month the JTB will relaunch its
www.jamaicatravel.com Web site, described as "one of the travel
industry's most cutting-edge sites."
Online booking for agents and, at a later date, consumers, is
planned, said Pennicook.
But consumer outreach will not come at the expense of agents,
who generate 84% of bookings to Jamaica, he added.
"Our new team recognizes that most business is booked by travel
agents, and we want to ensure that it not only continues, but
improves."