Jamaica minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett, has welcomed the return of the cruise sector to the Caribbean destination.
The minister said the arrival of Carnival Glory at Montego Bay Cruise Port would allow the island to “cross a major threshold in its tourism recovery”. The conquest-class cruise ship has a maximum capacity of 2,980 passengers and 1,150 crew members.
Montego Bay Cruise Port was itself recently recognised as the Caribbean’s Leading Home Port by voters at the World Travel Awards. The return of cruise to the second city in Jamaica is being managed by the Port Authority of Jamaica, the ministry of health and wellness, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC).
Carnival Corporation recently committed to sending 110 or more cruises, by its various brands, to the island between October and April next year. The announcement followed discussions between Bartlett, local tourism officials and senior Carnival Corporation executives during recent meetings.
The meetings formed part of a major marketing blitz, which saw the minister and his team visiting the main tourism source markets of Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom and the emerging market of the Middle East.
