By Gareth Davis, ContributorPORTLAND
THE FRUSTRATIONS plaguing the Jamaica Union of Travelers Association (JUTA) Portland Chapter operators, may well be a thing of the past, as indications are that the winter tourist season will be an active one.
The season started on October 25 with the arrival of the Europea, which has since brightened the spirits of not only JUTA mini-bus operators, but also craft vendors, operators of the various attraction sites and other members of the business community.
Already, three cruise ships are slated for the Ken Wright Shipping Pier, in Port Antonio, these are Silver Cloud, Silver Whisper and the Regatta which are scheduled for the 20th, 23rd and the 24th of November, respectively.
Cynthia 'Polly' Perry, branch manager of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Office in Port Antonio, told The Sunday Gleaner that the 2004 winter tourist season will probably be the most active one for tourism players and other interests, for sometime now. She said that the resort town of Port Antonio should benefit from cruise ship arrivals right up to December 2005.
"Based on the scheduled arrival of the cruise ships, Port Antonio should benefit largely, barring any cancellation," she said. "What is extremely important and must be a plus, for not only craft vendors, but also JUTA mini-bus operators, is that ships will also be calling on Port Antonio in the summer of 2005, something that has been absent for many years now."
Mrs. Perry noted that Rio Grande Rafting, Portland's Premier attraction and one of Jamaica's oldest, should benefit largely as rafting forms an integral part of the tour package.
CRUISE SHIPS' VISIT
Mrs. Perry added that other attraction sites including Summerset Falls, Frenchman's Cove Beach, Trident Castle the only one of its kind in the Caribbean and the Nonsuch Caves should also benefit from the cruise ships' visit.
"Continuous arrangements have also been made to have craft vendors display their craft items on the shipping pier facility. Plans are also in place to provide for them (craft vendors) a permanent tent on the shipping pier compound, until a craft market is available to them," she said.
Meanwhile, several JUTA mini-bus operators who spoke to The Sunday Gleaner indicated that the strain and frustration that they have been experiencing since the last cruise ship docked at the Ken Wright Pier in March, has been eased somewhat.
The JUTA members also indicated that they have reconditioned and serviced their vehicles to adequately meet the expected flow of tourists into Port Antonio.
"I have replaced front ends and suspension parts, and have done some upholstery to prepare myself for the influx of tourists", said one JUTA mini-bus operator, who gave his name only as 'Tony'.
Others like 'Tony', have done the same thing in anticipation of the cruise ships' arrival. Port Antonio, once the cradle of tourism, has become a shadow of its former glory years. The pulling out of Carnivale and Norwegian cruise ships in the 1980s crippled the tourism sector, forcing many persons to sell out and take up new occupations.
