Bartlett meets Florida cruise ship operators

Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett traveled to Miami, Florida in an effort to advocate for increased cruise shipping business for Jamaica.

Bartlett attended several meetings with tourism interests including representatives of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) and the Mayor of Miami Beach, Philip Levine.

While in Florida, the Minister met with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association’s (FCCA) new President, Adam Goldstein.

The meeting focused on ways to facilitate the hiring of more Jamaican crew-members, improving the guest experience at the Falmouth Port, as well as methods to strengthen the relationship between RCL and Jamaica.

“We have been working very hard to improve and increase the capacity of the country’s cruise industry. The results of which have been spectacular. We recently entered the record-books when the ports of Falmouth, Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Kingston hosted a combined six cruise vessels in one day. We also welcomed the world’s largest cruise ship in Falmouth and Kingston received its largest cruise ship ever. So, I am very excited to meet with Royal Caribbean’s new president, so that we can build on our successes and strengthen our relationships with this and other major cruise-lines,” said Bartlett.

The Minister also advocated for increased cruise business in Jamaica not only in his discussions with RCL but also with Mayor Levine.

This trip forms part of cruise marketing efforts being undertaken by the Ministry through the Jamaica Tourist Board. Minister Bartlett previously met with RCL representatives in December 2016 during the FCCA’s reception for Prime Minister, Andrew Holness in Doral, Florida.

Bartlett was accompanied by Delano Seiveright, Senior Communications Strategist, Tourism Enhancement Fund.