THE 2003 Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), ended yesterday with delegates wrapping up the second day of trade meetings at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, New Kingston.
Delegate-buyers, suppliers and travel agents were scheduled to cap their visit to the island's capital with a night of fun and frolic at the "Last Lap" carnival fete at the Mas Camp Village, Oxford Road, New Kingston.
Despite the views of some that the three-day event suffered as a result of the decision to stage it in Kingston this year, the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association is sticking with its choice of venue.
"While Kingston is not a leisure destination in the strictest sense, we have had extremely good feedback on the capital city, both from those who do business here and those who take advantage of the many cultural and historic accents that make Kingston special," the JHTA said in written comments to The Gleaner last evening.
The JHTA is the joint host of the event, with the Jamaica Tourist Board.
The Gleaner reported yesterday that several delegates attending the trade show had suggested that there appeared to be a fall-off in patronage this year. This they attributed to the decision to stage the event in the capital city. Last year the trade show, now 13 years old, was held in Ocho Rios on the North Coast.
"It is not true that the choice of Kingston for JAPEX 2003 has resulted in decreased attendance. There are always more (local) suppliers than (overseas) buyers at JAPEX or any other trade show for that matter. This, moreso since September 11, 2001 and the consolidations among tour operators which have taken place over the past two to three years," the JHTA said in its statement.
