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Lynch wants better flight arrangements between Jamaica, Europe
Alesia Edwards
Friday, November 06, 2009
OCHO RIOS, St Ann - Tourism director John Lynch wants air carriers operating out of Europe to consider offering frequent, non-stop flights to Jamaica as the country seeks to attract more tourists from that market.
Lynch. europeans don't like to go through London and they don't like to go to America; it's a problem
According to Lynch, there is a major concern among Europeans regarding the current flight arrangements to the island, which, if not addressed, could have a negative impact on the tourism industry.
"Europeans don't like to go through London and they don't like to go to America; it's a problem," Lynch told the Observer yesterday. "With the choice that they have of getting on a plane, in all of Europe and flying, if you don't have non-stop service, your potential for developing the market or growing the market is limited."
He anticipates that a strengthened association with TUI, the world's largest tour operator which sells hotel rooms for close to 50 resorts in Jamaica, will help to remedy the problem.
Wednesday, TUI launched its 2010 worldwide summer programme yesterday at RIU Ocho Rios before more than 100 journalists from Germany, Turkey and Spain. TUI, in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board, flew the journalists into the island for the event.
"What this relationship with TUI will do is to force and encourage the carriers, LTU and Condors which fly, to increase their services to Jamaica, now TUI will go and buy the products," Lynch said.
"This market is a straight manner of airlift. TUI is sufficiently impressed with what we're doing in the market, the demand for Jamaica, we work with them at the world championships in Berlin, during and right after Berlin they sold out the fall season to Jamaica," he added.
He said Jamaica stands to benefit significantly from the launch of TUI's worldwide summer programme as the journalists will have an opportunity to tour parts of Jamaica and visit different attractions and hotels.
"Spain is a good market to us. we stand to benefit, the journalists will go and write what they see, they have been here for two days and some have asked us to extend their stay so some will go and look at the attractions and other hotels." Lynch explained.
Lynch said while the JTB is anticipating favourable bookings from Europe for the upcoming winter season, it hopes to turn that market into a "year-round" one.
"I know that we're going to be having more airplanes flying here for the winter of 2010/11, because you don't make this kind of investment by flying in a plane with over 100 journalists unless you are serious about the destination."
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
Alesia Edwards
Friday, November 06, 2009
OCHO RIOS, St Ann - Tourism director John Lynch wants air carriers operating out of Europe to consider offering frequent, non-stop flights to Jamaica as the country seeks to attract more tourists from that market.
Lynch. europeans don't like to go through London and they don't like to go to America; it's a problemAccording to Lynch, there is a major concern among Europeans regarding the current flight arrangements to the island, which, if not addressed, could have a negative impact on the tourism industry.
"Europeans don't like to go through London and they don't like to go to America; it's a problem," Lynch told the Observer yesterday. "With the choice that they have of getting on a plane, in all of Europe and flying, if you don't have non-stop service, your potential for developing the market or growing the market is limited."
He anticipates that a strengthened association with TUI, the world's largest tour operator which sells hotel rooms for close to 50 resorts in Jamaica, will help to remedy the problem.
Wednesday, TUI launched its 2010 worldwide summer programme yesterday at RIU Ocho Rios before more than 100 journalists from Germany, Turkey and Spain. TUI, in collaboration with the Jamaica Tourist Board, flew the journalists into the island for the event.
"What this relationship with TUI will do is to force and encourage the carriers, LTU and Condors which fly, to increase their services to Jamaica, now TUI will go and buy the products," Lynch said.
"This market is a straight manner of airlift. TUI is sufficiently impressed with what we're doing in the market, the demand for Jamaica, we work with them at the world championships in Berlin, during and right after Berlin they sold out the fall season to Jamaica," he added.
He said Jamaica stands to benefit significantly from the launch of TUI's worldwide summer programme as the journalists will have an opportunity to tour parts of Jamaica and visit different attractions and hotels.
"Spain is a good market to us. we stand to benefit, the journalists will go and write what they see, they have been here for two days and some have asked us to extend their stay so some will go and look at the attractions and other hotels." Lynch explained.
Lynch said while the JTB is anticipating favourable bookings from Europe for the upcoming winter season, it hopes to turn that market into a "year-round" one.
"I know that we're going to be having more airplanes flying here for the winter of 2010/11, because you don't make this kind of investment by flying in a plane with over 100 journalists unless you are serious about the destination."
var addthis_pub="jamaicaobserver";
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