By Roy Sanford, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU:
AFTER AN absence of three years, the United Kingdom-based airline The Brittania has returned to Jamaica, a move that tourism officials say will boost the nation's tourism product.
The first flight, which landed in Montego Bay, St. James, on Tuesday with 339 visitors on board, came sharp on the heels of a travel advisory on Jamaica issued by the British Foreign Office after the unrest in Flankers, St. James.
"The charter is the first in a series of weekly flights from London's Gatwick gateway and will continue every Tuesday, for a year, initially," said Mandy Sprague, Team Manager for Tomson Holidays Jamaica.
Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism, in commenting on the return of The Brittania, said it represents a growing confidence in Jamaica by European tour operators. "The Britannia represents a further breakthrough in the European market where we have been doing particularly well with other charters like Air 2000 and My Travel," he said.
Hugh Maitland-Walker, managing director of TourWise Limited, who has been instrumental in negotiating the return of the charter, described it as a "great achievement.
"The flight is sold out till Christmas, so this is very encouraging," he noted.
INCREASED ECONOMIC ACTIVITY
He said the island is expected to see increased economic activity since British tourists do not confine themselves to their hotels, like their American counterparts. "A British tourist on average spends $6,000 on excursions because they do not confine themselves to all-inclusive hotels," he said. "British tourists love to go on excursions, go to restaurants and discover places."
Mr. Maitland-Walker also said Jamaica was fortunate that the British travel advisory was given little publicity in the British press.
