Tourism Director Expects Increased Arrivals This Winter

ST ANN, Jamaica — Director of Tourism, John Lynch says he is expecting an increase in arrivals for Jamaica during the upcoming winter tourist season. “We are going to have more air seats than we had last year,” Lynch declared in an address to the media on Wednesday, October 2 at the MasterCard Priceless Cities programme launch in Ocho Rios, St Ann. According to Lynch the only thing that can affect the success of a 2013 winter tourism season for Jamaica is a hurricane. The Tourism director said that he was optimistic in spite of the fact that some hotels on the island remained closed. The closure of these hotels is not expected to affect the number of visitors expected, he insisted. “The only thing that I think can cause a hiccup, and I am keeping my fingers cross, is another hurricane,” said an upbeat Lynch. He explained that last year the number of arrivals was affected by a decrease in flights out of Canada, which is a big winter market for Jamaica, adding that more flights are expected out of that country this year. More flights are also expected out of Europe come next year, Lynch said.