Jamaica's Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett and a national delegation say they are optimistic about the future of tourism in the Caribbean nation following a brief deal-making tour of Latin America.
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"We had constructive meetings with the president of Argentina," Bartlett told Caribbean 360.com. "We had successful meetings with all the major tourism players in the region, as is evident by the number of deals we managed to pull off.
"We also made very successful treks into Colombia, Peru and Chile. I can safely say without any fear of contradiction that we have made that long-anticipated breakthrough into the South American market.
"Chilean airline LATAM will have three flights, while Avianca Colombia is slated to commence flying directly to Jamaica from Bogota, Colombia, four times weekly by March 2019, which will complete the airlift security plan for the South American market."
The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) will be utilizing social media and other channels to promote tourism for what he described as a very lucrative but vastly untapped market.
"The move to (provide air) service between Panama City, Copa's major hub, and Montego Bay, our tourist capital, will make it easier for tourists visiting from several nations, including Argentina and Chile, which are among our most robust Latin American markets," Bartlett continued.
"Tourists can, any day of the week, hop on a flight in Buenos Aires or Santiago and connect seamlessly via Panama City and be in Jamaica for quality vacation time. This is a game changer that will lift arrival numbers from this important part of South America."