Jamaica to host Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014

Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

NASSAU, Bahamas:
Jamaica is to host the region's most important tourism industry trade show, Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014.

This would be the fourth time the island will be the hosting the 31-year-old event.

First Vice President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig, made the announcement during the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) press conference, at the Atlantis, Paradise Island, in The Bahamas this morning.

Madden-Greig said the multi-million dollar Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall will be the venue for the 2014 event.

"The convention centre has come into its own and having hosted the event two years ago we have no doubts this will be one of the best Caribbean Travel Marketplace ever," said Madden-Greig.

Her announcement was bolstered by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Dr. Wykeham McNeill who noted that the trade show would give Jamaica the opportunity to showcase a lot of the new developments on the island.

"Example: the opening of North Coast highway which will be a game changer in tourism, owing to its ability to link the two international airports," said McNeill.

Jamaica's announcement comes on the heels of reports from CHTA describing Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2013, which is now on at the Atlantis, as a tremendous success.

A large contingent of Jamaican hoteliers, ground handlers and attraction operators are among the 1,195 delegates in attendance at the two-day event.

Aside from the traditional supporters, for the first time, the event has attracted buyers from Belgium, France, Switzerland and Poland.

France has some 15 companies attending the event.

The other participating buyer nations, include, China, Russia, Spain, Sweden, USA, Canada, the UK, Argentina, Italy, Netherlands and Germany.


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janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com