NEW DELHI, 17.January 2024: As tourism continues to be one of the main engines of economic growth, with record arrivals and earnings, it is important that Jamaicans feel the benefit of the sector’s success.
Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, speaking at the recent opening of the new Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters, Trelawny, said “the Jamaicans must feel the benefits of the tourism sector and their chance of getting a slice of the lucrative tourism pie. It can’t just be prosperity for some… but prosperity for all”.
According to the Honourable Prime Minister, Jamaica has the potential to exceed its current record arrival figures, which is estimated to reach 4.1 million in 2023, with $4.3 billion in earnings. He noted that Jamaica has the diversity in its tourism product to attract many visitors.
Since the Government of Jamaica is making consistent efforts to upscale their tourism industry, Jamaica won multiple awards during the year 2023. The island destination earned a total of eight awards in the prestigious gold and silver categories at the 2023 Travvy Awards; the island was named as ‘Caribbean’s Best Culinary Destination’ at the 2023 World Culinary Awards ceremony and was also named as the ‘World’s Best Cruise Destination’ and ‘World’s Best Family Destination’ at World Travel Awards 2023; solidifying the Caribbean country’s position as a premier global tourist destination.
Recently, the Sangster International Airport (SIA) has been named as the ‘Caribbean Airport of the Year’ in the 10th annual Caribbean Travel Awards. The announcement, made by Caribbean Journal, the world's largest website covering Caribbean travel, highlighted SIA's exceptional achievements and transformation into one of the Caribbean's premier aviation hubs. The recent makeover of Sangster International Airport has resulted in a superior, more digitised passenger experience, enhanced services and an upgraded Food and Beverage offering, featuring the world’s first-ever Bob Marley-branded restaurant. SIA’s remarkable achievements contribute to the region’s fast-growing airlift networks.
In an initiative to promote Jamaica globally, Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Ian Fleming International Airport has all the right tools to be a powerful marketing magnate for Jamaica. The airport is named after a non-Jamaican (late British author Ian Fleming), however, the massive international name recognition and appeal, especially when we factor in the worldwide success of the James Bond movie franchise, justifies the move in going in that direction.
“The renaming and upgrading of what was once the Boscobel Aerodrome to the Ian Fleming International Airport, named after the iconic writer and creator of the successful James Bond movies, can be a huge pull factor for Jamaica,” Mr. Bartlett said. “Mr. Fleming, who wrote the James Bond novels from his villa in nearby Oracabessa and lived in Jamaica for a significant portion of his life, has strong ties to the area, making the change from Boscobel to Ian Fleming a fitting tribute,” he added.
The association with Ian Fleming and the James Bond series brings with it myriad advantages for the tourism sector, arguing that the international recognition and global popularity of the James Bond franchise can serve as a powerful marketing tool for Jamaica, enticing fans of the iconic 007 (moniker for James Bond) spy movies to visit the island and explore the locations that played a part in the creation and filming of the series.
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About Jamaica Tourist Board
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), founded in 1955, is Jamaica’s national tourism agency based in the capital city of Kingston. JTB offices are also located in Montego Bay, Miami, Toronto and London. Representative offices are located in New Delhi, Mumbai, Berlin, Barcelona, Rome, Amsterdam, Tokyo and Paris. In 2022, Jamaica topped the World Travel Awards across multiple categories, most notably as the winner of Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Destination and JTB as the Caribbean’s Leading Tourist Board.