Janet Silvera, Senior Tourism Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Amid cautious optimism by tourism officials, the 2007 stopover arrival figures could be up by a percentage point over last year's, and be the precursor to a strong 2008.

In a release from the Jamaica Tourist Board on Friday, director of tourism, Basil Smith, hinted that given the various challenges that faced the travel industry in 2007, Jamaica could very well record its best year ever in stopover visitors.

Good news

As the good news circulated within industry circles, the Tourist Board moved quickly to clarify media reports that the United States Congress had granted an extension to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative which requires all Americans travelling back to the United States from the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada to present a valid passport on their return home.

The tourism director was quick to point out that only Americans travelling by land across the three regions would benefit from the extension, which comes into effect in mid-2009.

He stated that availability of accommodation in the island's resort areas was beginning to get tight "there are still some opportunities for travellers to book last-minute winter getaways for the beginning of 2008 in January, February and March".

Not too late

He added: "It is definitely not too late to plan a long weekend Jamaican getaway for this winter."

Already, resorts such as LXR's Rose Hall Resort and Country Club in Montego Bay are forecasting very strong bookings for February, March and April, with January projections aimed at 70 per cent. "After being closed for months, we never expected a typical January where we are accustomed to occupancies of 90 per cent upwards," stated the resort's general manager, Dermot Connolly.

The 488-room hotel, which closed from June 15-November 26, and reopened after a US$40 million facelift, peaked out at 87 per cent this Christmas.

Jamaica is in the midst of a development boom right now throughout the island, a process that is creating a strong foundation for exponential growth in tourist arrivals in 2008.

Wayne Cummings, president of the Jamaica Hotel Tourist Association (JHTA) acknowledged that: "Plans are already being implemented to increase the room stock by the thousands, ranging from high-end luxury properties such as Goldeneye, Palmyra and Harmony Cove, as well as Spanish chains such as Iberostar, Riu and Bahía Principe."

To complement the new resorts there has been a great thrust to improve the attraction offerings, which includes new cultural centres such as the Outameni Experience in Trelawny and eco-exploration activities such as Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios.