A new, Connecticut-based based tour company, Otaheti Travel, is to start offering tours in Jamaica.

The company, formed by Jamaican-born American businessman Aeon Cummings, aims to deliver all-inclusive tour offerings. Although the company was officially launched earlier this month, Cummings plans to wait until late summer or early fall to offer his tailor-made programmes.

The plans are to boost the tour packages during the winter season in December.

According to Cummings, “We want to deliver awareness experiences for our clients by using many of the people we know on the island…A local artist, for example, might be the official driver on a trip, taking travelers off the beaten path to get an understanding of local culture.”

In explaining how the tours will work the Otaheti Travel boss said, “We’ll stop at jerk shacks as part of one itinerary and learn how to cook Jamaican food, visit small galleries with resident artists on another or hike mountains on a third.”

Partnering with travel advisors

Cummings mentioned that Otaheti Travel will be partnering with travel advisors in this new venture. He praised travel advisors declaring his plans to work with them, offering incentives and a 15 per cent commission.

Cummings posited that although there no set prices for his programs, explaining that they all will differ from another, depending upon the clients’ “dreams.”

There will be three price levels of silver, gold and platinum, which will range from approximately US$2,500 to US$4,000 per person, including air, high-end accommodations in villas and boutique properties, all meals, excursions and the services of a local guide and driver.

The itineraries will focus on specific locations, locals and experiences on the north coast or the southeast and southwest coasts. The Kingston and St Andrew parish itinerary is geared primarily to arts and culture aficionados.

Five different tour experiences will be on offer

Experiences fall into four groups of client interests, focused on arts and culture, adventure, foodie tours and wellness. A fifth experience, labelled corporate training and development, focuses on team-building activities, business retreats and conferences.

The time frame per excursion will be five to seven nights with a group of six to eight people, who know one another. “We’re open to taking kids along who are used to traveling,” Cummings said.

He added that, “our Otaheti Ambassadors will show our guests a good time. If our guests tell them what they want to do, they will curate it.”

The goal, as explained by Cummings is to provide trips that enrich people’s lives and create lifelong memories, using the vast pool of talented underutilized human capital in a sustainable, responsible way.