Devon Evans, Gleaner Writer

OCHO RIOS, St Ann:

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica's continued penetration of the European tourism market is expected to earn the nation some US$7.5 billion over the next 10 years.

Bartlett said on the weekend that, between now and 2018, the country is expected to welcome more than five million stopover visitors from Europe.

He made the disclosure on Saturday while speaking at the official opening of Jamaica's newest attraction, Rainforest Bobsled Jamaica at Mystic Mountain in Ocho Rios, St Ann.

Ready to reap benefits

Bartlett said Jamaica was fully aware of the changing persona of today's travellers, has successfully gone ahead in shaping its tourism product to surpass those expectations and is now ready to reap the benefits.

Bartlett said Mystic Mountain would play a critical part in realising the vision of the new tourism in Jamaica and that the stellar attraction illustrates the importance of staying ahead of the market.

"So today marks an important milestone with the opening of Mystic Mountain which is expected to add by veracity to Jamaica's eco-friendly attractions," he said.

The tourism minister described Mystic Mountain as an innovative way of showcasing Jamaica's natural beauty and an extraordinary setting for special events that would become an important part of the tourism product.

He said the establishment of the attraction was also a superb example of the private sector contribution to the overall development of Jamaica's tourism product.