Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica Minister of Tourism, has revealed that he has begun discussions with top representatives of Emirates Airlines with the goal of launching a unique flight between Dubai and Jamaica early next year. The announcement comes as the Minister wrapped up marketing activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday, including a crucial meeting with senior executives from Emirates Airlines at their Dubai headquarters. The possibility of introducing a special service between Dubai and Jamaica in celebration of Jamaica Day at Expo 2020, Dubai in February 2022, was a major topic of discussion.
“We agreed to explore the feasibility of arranging this flight, details of which are to be worked out as soon as possible. There was also a productive discussion around tourism and airline recovery prospects and the positive V-shape pattern being experienced by Jamaica and Dubai.”
Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica Minister of Tourism
He anticipates further discussions in the context of multi-destination strategies being developed in the northern Caribbean to allow for a more comprehensive engagement of the Emirates and other Middle Eastern partners. Emirates operates over 3,600 flights per week, making it the largest airline in the UAE and the Middle East overall.
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While in the UAE, Minister Bartlett and his team met with the country’s Tourism Authority to discuss collaboration on regional tourism investment, Middle East tourism initiatives, gateway access for North Africa and Asia, and airlift facilitation. Meetings were also held with executives from EMAAR, arguably the Middle East’s largest and most prestigious hospitality and real estate/community developer; DP World, one of the world’s largest port and marine logistics companies; DNATA, the UAE’s single largest tour operator; and TRACT, a powerful tour operator in India.
From the UAE, Minister Bartlett will head to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will speak at the 5th edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII). This year’s FII will include in-depth conversations about new global investment opportunities, analysis of industry trends, and unparalleled networking among CEOs, world leaders, and experts.
He will be joined by Senator, Hon. Aubyn Hill in his capacity as Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), with responsibility for Water, Land, Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs), the Special Economic Zone Authority of Jamaica and special projects.
Also Edmund Bartlett recently concluded a series of important cruise investment meetings with DP World, a major multinational logistics company based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“I am very happy to announce that our meetings with one of the world’s largest port and marine logistics companies, DP World, have been very successful. During three consecutive days of meetings, we have had serious discussions about investments in the Port Royal Cruise Port and the possibility of homeporting. We also discussed the development of a logistics hub, a Vernamfield multi-modal transport and aerotropolis, as well as other infrastructural investments,” said Bartlett.
While in the UAE, Minister Bartlett and his team will meet with representatives of the country’s Tourism Authority to discuss regional tourism investment collaboration, Middle East tourism initiatives, gateway access for North Africa and Asia, and airlift facilitation. There will also be meetings with executives from DNATA Tours, the UAE’s largest tour operator; members of the Jamaican Diaspora in the UAE; and executives from the Middle East’s three major airlines, Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar.