Athaliah ReynoldsStaff Reporter

Smith

WITH CANADIAN carrier WestJet Airlines scheduled to come on board in December, in time for the winter tourist season, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is confident of the continued increase in visitor arrivals fromthat region.

According to figures presented by Director of Tourism, Basil Smith, between January and March the Canadian market grew by 32.8 per cent, highlighting what he describes as an "incredible performance".

With this impressive turnaround in the Canadian market, considering the gradual decline in arrivals from the U.S. - around 12.1 per cent between January and March - the JTB sees an obviously greater need for more air seats out of that area.

Scheduled service

WestJet Airlines will begin scheduled service to Jamaica from Toronto, Canada, on December 10.

"The airline will operate flights to the island three times during the week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays," said Mr. Smith.

This will provide approximately 408 more seats to Jamaica on a weekly basis.

According to Mr. Smith, the European market has also made similar strides in recent months.

"The growth in European investments in Jamaica has led to significant increases in arrivals from that continent, in particular Spain," he said.

"Several investors in the Jamaican hotel sector have of late been integrated into the industry, in that they operate charter companies and/or travel retail outlets of their own."

Consequently, Mr. Smith said arrivals out of Spain have begun to climb dramatically.

He revealed that stopover arrivals from Europe increased by 15.7 per cent for the January to March 2007 period, with U.K. arrivals growing by 18.2 per cent during the same three-month period.

There has also been a 40 per cent increase in the number of chartered flights coming into the island from the continent.