Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Cabinet has approved recommendations for the revitalisation of Jamaica Vacations Limited (JAMVAC), which was merged into the operations of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) four years after a scaling down by Government.

Traditionally set up to build airlift of mainly charter flights into the country, JAMVAC, which will become fully operational during the new financial year, April 2008, is being steered by Unique Vacations and JTB chairman, John Lynch, as well as an impressive team of tourism stakeholders, including three former Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association presidents, Lionel Reid, Heinz Simonitsch and Horace Peterkin.

Emerging markets

Half Moon's Myrtle Dwyer and Dr. Carolyn Hayles are among the board members that have been appointed.

"JAMVAC's focus will be the emerging markets of Asia and South America, while helping to strengthen the European market," Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett told The Gleaner.

He added that the company that has been operating as a line item in the JTB budget will work closely with tour operators negotiating rates as well. The minister is convinced that this new initiative will see Jamaica having a stronger presence in the marketplace.

Fewer airline seats

The news comes at a time when many in the industry have expressed concerns regarding the decrease by 100,000 airline seats out of North America this winter tourist season.

Some 810,000 seats were made available by airlines from January 15-April 15, last year. However, for the same period this year, there are only 702,000 seats available from North America, reflecting a loss of over 100,000.

However, Minister Bartlett is not worried owing to the fact that, in 2006, tourists used 53 per cent of those seats, while in 2008, the airlines expect the tourists to use 73 per cent of the seats, meaning the country could still have the same number of passengers arriving from the United States.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com