Jamaica continues to receive commendation for its successful hosting of the largest-ever Caribbean Travel Marketplace 42 from May 20- 23, which Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has hailed as a “resounding success.”

With close to 1,200 delegates from more than 45 countries in attendance, Bartlett was elated at the response from suppliers and buyers alike, as well as the countries in the region that participated in the event. The minister was also excited to learn that Caribbean Travel Marketplace 42 had well over 12,750 scheduled appointments with parties exploring the signing of contracts.

He declared that this, “signals the full post-COVID-19 recovery of tourism in our region.”

Caribbean Travel Marketplace is the region’s premier tourism trade event hosted jointly in Jamaica this year at the Montego Bay Conference Centre by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA), along with various tourism partners.

Full team effort 

Both Minister Bartlett and CHTA president Nicola Madden-Greig commended the organisations and individuals whose efforts made the event a major success.

Bartlett said the marketplace, “brought new ideas, an opportunity to look at best practices and to give support to each other in building the industry.”

With tourism recognised as the lifeblood of the economy of the Caribbean, the tourism minister highlighted that most islands were running well ahead of 40 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) dependence on tourism with employment and foreign exchange primarily generated by the industry “and therefore huge portions of our investments are also driven by tourism.”

Madden-Greig concurred with Bartlett’s sentiments, adding, “All the feedback so far has been exceptional. Jamaica has been the best host and we did a great job.”

She disclosed that a lot of new elements were added in the 42nd renewal of marketplace, including the first-ever MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) groups exchange with a special itinerary for meeting planners. 

“We also had our first multi-destination fam trip, which is celebrating the fact that we’re trying to push regional tourism and letting people understand that when you come to the Caribbean you can enjoy more than one destination,” she said in a post-event interview noting that good airlift is now available linking St Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica and going onto Cayman.