Contributed
Minister of Tourism for the Dominican Republic, Ramon Afredo Bordos G., cuts a ribbon to mark the inauguration of Air Jamaica Express's direct flight to Santo Domingo. Looking on is Allan Marley, Jamaica's Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, left, and Paulo Moreira, president and chief executive officer, Air Jamaica Express.Ingrid Brown, Staff Reporter
Tour operators are optimistic that Air Jamaica Express' direct flight to Santo Domingo, capital of the Spanish-speaking island of the Dominican Republic, could bring more tourists to the island.
Monday's inaugural flight to Santo Domingo showed the vision of the operators when a group of tourists spontaneously took the flight back to Jamaica for a few days.
Prior to this direct flight, which officially started last Wednesday, passengers to Santo Domingo had to travel via Panama, or Miami. This could cost anywhere from US$400 to US$600 per person, in comparison to the US$249 which will now be the regular airfare.
Tour operator, Robert Hendricks of Tropical Tours Ltd, said he saw such a flight as a marketable venture.
The 37-seater, Dash-8 aircraft took as its first passengers chief executive officer of Air Jamaica Express, Paulo Moreira, tour operators, Air Jamaica Express staff, the D.R.'s Consul-General to Jamaica, Juan Danilo Tejeda, as well as a few passengers.
Champagne flowed as the very pleasant air hostess kept passengers in comfort during the two-hour flight. An official welcoming team, comprising the Minister of Tourism for the Dominican Republic, Ramon Afredo Bordes G. was on hand to welcome the passengers. Young girls in traditional dress danced and entertained the visitors, while members of the official party from Santo Domingo endorsed the venture.
The language barrier presented a problem for the media personnel, but the Minister of Tourism did his best to translate into English. He told Showbiz he was very happy with the direct flight, which he expected would help to build a better relationship between both countries.
"We hope this union will last for a very long time," he said.
The island, with a population of nine million, has tourism as its greatest earner and the Tourism Minister pointed out that last year the country made more than US$3 billion from tourism.
Juan Danilo Tejeda told Showbiz that this venture will be beneficial to the 300 Dominican Republic's nationals who currently reside in Jamaica, as well as Jamaicans wishing to go to Santo Domingo either for business or pleasure.
"Usually it would have taken nearly a whole day to get from here to there because the passenger would have to go to Panama, wait until 7:00 p.m. before connecting to Santo Domingo," he said.
Mr. Moreira told Showbiz that the direct flight would also make it easier to travel between Jamaica and Haiti, which is a short journey from Santo Domingo.
He said Air Jamaica Express was building relationships with some of the Spanish hotels for accommodation for passengers.
Flights to Santo Domingo will operate every day except Tuesdays. And Air Jamaica Express has also started flights to Grand Cayman and Nassau.
Late last year, the airline introduced flights to Havana and the Turks and Caicos Islands.
