By Janet Silvera, Gleaner Writer 
The large crowd that converged at the Sangster International Airport waiting for their relatives. - Janet Silvera Photo
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE ARRIVAL of thousands of Jamaicans from overseas this Christmas season has resulted in booming airport business, lengthy customs processing, traffic congestion and crowds congregating at the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay.
According to some airport workers, the airport has never seen so many Jamaicans arriving on its tarmac over the past several decades and this has forced airport consortium, MBJ Limited, to fast forward its expansion plans by putting in two additional car parks to accommodate the number of vehicles picking up passengers.
And a new pick-up and drop-off area has also been introduced to facilitate the huge traffic congestion in the arrivals area.
The sudden windfall has come as both a surprise and a welcome addition for many in the tourism industry.
"We were expecting a robust season, but we didn't know we would see so many Jamaicans," Leonor Lozano, General Manager, MBJ Limited told The Gleaner.
She said although they are now up to five conveyor belts in the Customs hall, having added two to the existing three, the long delays in Customs will continue until expansion is tackled in the US$180 million five year modernisation exercise.
The unprecedented arrivals has seen the airport-based car rental agencies running out of cars, having to lock off reservations and making way for the car dealers based outside the facilities.
The airlines are packed to capacity and even the Digicel kiosk is reportedly doing exceptional business for the season.
"Business is pretty good and anybody who says anything else is being dishonest," said a clearly pleased Melford Gopaulsingh, owner of APlus Car Rentals.
He said in his eight years in the car rental business he has never seen so many people.
"I have been working in the airport for the past 20 years and it's the first time that I have ever seen so many Jamaicans coming home," said Red Cap porter, Alten Bryce. "You should have been here on Tuesday. There was no space to walk outside," he told the Sunday Gleaner.
A senior officer at the Airports Authority of Jamaica, commenting on the situation at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston , says this time of year is considered the peak period, and that they too had experienced very heavy traffic at the airport over the past week. " But it's not really unusual. From the 15th of December to the ending of the month, it's really heavy," the senior officer said.
Several people told The Sunday Gleaner, they had come home because of their need for an 'Old time' Christmas filled with spontaneity, peace, happiness and togetherness.
"There is no Christmas in America," said Minister of Religion, Dorothy Walters, who has spent the last 20 years in New York. "It's just not the same as Jamaica. It's cold weather, no revival music."
And Barry Brown, who is spending his second Christmas here in 40 years, said, he came home with the hope of having an old fashion Christmas. "I want to experience Christmas market, going from house to house, having a little rum and not having to call the neighbours seeking permission, if that is still allowed."
Another Jamaican, Jeffrey Patterson, who lives in Toronto, says he has not missed a Christmas in Jamaica in 25 years.
According to him, he would be extremely disappointed if he couldn't spend Christmas in the island. "Christmas is a much more eventful thing for us here."
In his opinion Jamaicans tend to enjoy Christmas more. "We are more spontaneous. People drop in as they like and there is no need to call anyone if you are in the area."
The Jamaicans make up the bulk of 6,000 passengers arriving at the Sangster International Airport per day since Monday, December 15.
