News
JAM | Sep 12, 2023

Photos | JAPEX 2023 off to a glitzy start

/ Our Today

administrator
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Jamaica is on track to meet projections of 3.8 million visitor arrivals

The 2023 staging of Jamaica’s premiere travel trade show, Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), kicked off last evening with a glitzy opening event at the Chukka Ocean Outpost in Sandy Bay, Hanover.

In delivering a brief update on the industry, keynote speaker Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett disclosed that Jamaica is on track to meet projections of 3.8 million visitors and US$4.1 billion in foreign exchange earnings by year-end.

This comes following a more than 32 per cent increase in visitors for the first eight months of 2023.

According to Bartlett, “Events like JAPEX are driving the growth of our tourism industry and ensuring its continued success. The importance of these partnerships cannot be overstated. Collaboration between buyers and suppliers lies at the heart of effectively promoting the Jamaican tourism product on a global scale.”

Today represents the first official business day of the three-day event, which now moves to the Montego Bay Convention Centre today and tomorrow. During these two days, there will be pre-scheduled appointments, wholesalers, tour operators, and travel agents meeting with Jamaica’s leading tourism suppliers to conduct business negotiations.

Over 236 delegates have registered for the tourism exposition including 102 buyer delegates, two global media companies, and 132 supplier delegates. Twenty(20) countries namely Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, India, Italy, Jamaica, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Mexico, Spain, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States and Uruguay are represented.

JAPEX is put on every year by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), in cooperation with the JTB and the Ministry of Tourism.

Check out the photos from the event:

Tags
Edmund Bartlett Japex 2023

Comments

What To Read Next

News JAM Apr 1, 2026

Young Jamaica calls for resignation of MP Dennis Gordon over UHWI tax exemption scandal

Reading Time: 2 minutesYoung Jamaica, the youth arm of the governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), has called for the resignation of East Central St Andrew Member of Parliament Dennis Gordon following revelations made during a recent session of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

“Young Jamaica, take note of confirmation during yesterday’s Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that JACDEN Limited is among the multi-million dollar beneficiaries of what a recent report from the Auditor General revealed to be the unlawful and inappropriate use of the tax exemption status of the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI),” the youth arm said in a statement.
News JAM Apr 1, 2026

PAHO and MOHW conclude after-action review workshop to boost hurricane preparedness

Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW), in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), recently concluded a two-day After-Action Review (AAR) workshop held from March 24–25. The workshop aimed to strengthen Jamaica’s preparedness and response systems following the impact of Hurricane Melissa.

After-Action Reviews are a standard tool in emergency management, used to assess response efforts, capture lessons learned, and improve coordination, planning, and operational systems for future events. Importantly, aligning the AAR process with the International Health Regulations (IHR) ensures that the evaluation of public health emergencies meets globally recognised standards, strengthening Jamaica’s ability to detect, assess, report, and respond to health threats in a timely and effective manner.
News USA Apr 1, 2026

USCIS strengthens screening and vetting of immigration applicants

Reading Time: 2 minutesThe US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a series of strengthened screening and vetting measures aimed at enhancing national security and public safety, particularly for applicants from high-risk countries.

In a statement released Tuesday (March), USCIS said its review of pending workloads and benefit applications revealed that prior screening measures were “wholly inadequate.” According to the agency, many applicants for naturalisation and lawful permanent residence were not sufficiently vetted, creating risks to national security and public safety while undermining the integrity of the immigration system.