WESTERN BUREAU:
WITH JUST two weeks before the start of the winter tourist season, tourism officials are optimistic that Jamaica will enjoy its best season since 2000.
However, despite this, they warn that crime and violence remain the greatest challenge to the development of the nation's tourism product.
"The problem of crime and violence which makes us an unsafe destination in the eyes of our potential visitors is a huge, huge problem that we have to deal with," Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, told reporters in Montego Bay yesterday. "If we could get that crime situation reduced or eliminated for that matter our arrivals would absolutely go through the roof."
A CHALLENGE
President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA), Godfrey Dyer, agreed that crime continues to give potential visitors a negative perception of Jamaica.
"The perception of Jamaica as not being safe is indeed a challenge," he said. "If we can overcome that perception we will have to be building hotel rooms every day to accommodate guests."
But even in the face of this drawback both men said that the island is expected to enjoy a very good winter season.
"All indications are that we are going to have a very good winter season," Mr. Dyer said. "The reports that I have been having from all my colleagues show that the percentage of bookings (at hotels) is reasonably high at this stage."
He said that some hotels are reporting that they are being booked up to six and eight weeks ahead. "This is a very good indication of an excellent winter season," Mr. Dyer noted.
ARRIVALS UP
Mr. Pennicook said that he was very encouraged by the feedback that he has been getting from all overseas agencies that the winter season is shaping up to be a 'good one.'
"There is extra lift coming to the destination from Europe and North America and they are selling very well," he stated. "As compared to the end of October last year, visitor arrivals to the island is up by 17 per cent and if things stay on track, and we anticipate that they will for the rest of the year, we should achieve our target of a seven per cent increase for the year, over 2002."
