Economy

Markets

Industries

Insights

Reports

Events

Direct flight to Jamaica expected

By Shangguan Zhoudong and Zhao Tingting (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2008-04-16 10:29

China and Jamaica are expected to sign an agreement on direct flights by the end of this year, in an effort to make travel to the North American country more convenient for Chinese tourists, said Jamaica's Minister of Tourism during an exclusive interview with chinadaily.com.cn yesterday.

Jamaica's Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett [left] during an exclusive interview with chinadaily.com.cn on April 15 in Beijing.[chinadaily.com.cn]

"We expect the direct flight issue to be concluded when our Prime Minister visits China at the end of this year," said Minister Edmund Bartlett yesterday in Beijing.

The minister, who is in China for the China Outbound Travel and Tourism Market event, expects more Chinese sightseers to visit his country.

 "We are in negotiations with Chinese authorities on direct flights between China and Jamaica, including the Civil Aviation Administration of China," said Bartlett.

Currently, there are no direct flights between the two countries. Chinese visitors have to fly to Jamaica through the United States, Holland, or Canada, said the minister.

Bartlett led a substantial delegation to China for the tourism exhibition, one which included government officials and aviation companies.

He also met with a vice minister responsible for China's civilian aviation and discussed the issue of new flight routes with him.

Jamaica was granted approved destination status (ADS) by China in 2005. Chinese arrivals to Jamaica grew 10.3 percent in 2007 from the year before.

To attract more Chinese tourists, the minister said he plans to promote within China, launching advertisements and other promotions via travel agencies and airlines.

China's outbound tourism sector has skyrocketed in recent years, with the number of Chinese traveling abroad reaching 34 million in 2006, up from 12 million in 2001.

The World Tourism Organization has forecast that China will see 215 million people traveling overseas by 2015.