Over 1000 representatives across all tourism sectors will gather in Jamaica to participate in “The Caribbean Travel Marketplace,” the largest travel conference in the region.
Montego, a major cruise ship bay in the country’s north, has been selected to host this massive event that’ll be running from May 20-22.
In its 42nd version, the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) looks to offer unique opportunities for Caribbean hospitality destinations and resorts to connect, learn, showcase their products and services, and close deals with other nations.
According to CHTA President Nicola Madden-Greig, this event will allow “new and established buyers from all corners of the world to access a rich offering of travel products and experiences throughout the Caribbean,” she said.
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace is “where those of us in the industry meet, collaborate, strategize, and get smarter about how best to share the Caribbean experience with visitors from around the world,” she concluded.
So far, more than 150 companies, including 14 European businesses, have confirmed their attendance.
According to CHTA Acting CEO and Director General Vanessa Ledesma, this is a “fantastic chance” to interact with a myriad of real potential buyers in the same country, saving you money and time in the process.
This time around, attendees will be able to benefit from the presence of the “Caribbean Travel Forum,” a prestigious initiative focused on intra-Caribbean travel, air connectivity, and technology innovation.
They will also take part in a celebratory luncheon to honor “the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year” and “the Destination Resilience” award winner, among others.
The program will also establish a “Marketplace Responsible Tourism Day” to ensure destinations not only profit from the community but also give back to it.
But why was Jamaica chosen to host such a massive and important event for the tourism industry?
First and foremost, this Caribbean nation has already successfully hosted this event in the past. But that’s not all.
Jamaica has emerged as a top destination to visit and do business in the Caribbean. During January and February 2024, the country received 1,000,961 travelers, representing a 15.1 percent increase over the same months in 2023.
Out of these million visitors, more than 600,000 were stopover arrivals and 389,319 were cruise passengers, 29.7 percent more than in January and February 2024.
It has also managed to make more than $1 billion in profits, up 8.5 percent over the same months in 2024 and an increase of 8.5.
For all these reasons, this event promises to take the Jamaican tourism industry to the next level.