San Juan, Puerto Rico:
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett made the announcement during the opening of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace on Wednesday afternoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the event is now on.
Addressing the media during an impromptu press briefing, Bartlett said that Jamaica was excited to again host the prestigious Caribbean Marketplace and pointed to the success the country has had with the event in the past.
“We have seen great optics in terms of visitor arrivals and the general benefits to the economy of Jamaica,” he said, adding that 2019 would provide a new opportunity for the country to gain more recognition as a centre for global events.
This would be Jamaica’s fourth time hosting the mega trade show.
Referencing the recent UNWTO-Government of Jamaica conference, which was staged last November at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, Bartlett said that a statement was made to the world that Jamaica can have and execute global events in a safe, secure, and seamless way.
More than 1,000 delegates are attending the 35th anniversary event in Puerto Rico.
Some 102 buyer companies, represented by 243 delegates from 18 countries, including Ecuador, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Peru, the United Kingdom, the USA, Spain, Uruguay, and Canada are in attendance.
Supplier registration amounts to 228 companies, represented by 549 delegates from 26 countries in the Caribbean.
According to Ledesma, a total of 9,824 pre-scheduled meetings were set up among delegates.
“We have attracted 31 new buyers, and again we are hosting five meetings and incentives groups,” she said, adding that this was an area in which the CHTA would like to see growth.
Original article: http://jamaica-gleaner.com/article/news/20180202/jamaica-host-mega-tourism-trade-show
