In this context, Travel2latam spoke with Luciana Alonso, Sales Manager LATAM of GMS, who is in charge of Visit Jamaica in South America.
What are the expectations with which Jamaica is presenting itself at the FIT in Buenos Aires?
FIT Buenos Aires will be the lounge, the first fair before the opening of the Latam flight. We are very happy and I am sure that the Argentines are already top, with only one flight with Copa, and imagine now with two airlines fighting to reach Jamaica. Being able to have Copa and Latam, with seven frequencies per week, under their command, is going to be incredible.
What details can you provide about the flight that Latam will offer?
Starting December 1, Latam is offering flights to Montego Bay with a stop in Lima three times a week. A visa is not required. Jamaica is very easy, only a passport and the yellow fever vaccine are required.
How would you describe the destination for those who haven't visited Jamaica yet?
The Argentine market loves the beach, and we have incredible beaches, but also a lot of ecotourism, adventure sports, rivers, and even roller coasters in Jamaica. It is not a destination to just stay inside a hotel, you can get to know the culture, the history, feel all the vibes and happiness of the island, of course.
And what are the favourite destinations for Argentines? You mentioned Montego Bay earlier, but there are other very interesting ones that I would like you to highlight.
Negril, because it has the Seven Miles Beach that Argentines love, with lots of walking to do. Montego Beach is also very nice. Kingston is a wonderful city to visit, it is our financial, cultural, and economic capital, and it has its beauties, its beautiful beaches. To the south is Port Antonio, which is about an hour from Kingston by road, and there we have some incredible landscapes, and of course very interesting museums. For cultural tourism, we have the Bob Marley House Museum and the Devon House Museum, which are in Kingston.
There are also sports centres and beach clubs where you can enjoy a disco at night. In other words, there is a place for every personality.
How has this year gone for you? What are your expectations for 2025?
We did very well this year, we increased the number of passengers significantly compared to last year. We are confident that 2025 will be a very important year for Jamaica, including for the Latin market, which is the focus. That is why we are looking for many airline partners to support us and help us by increasing routes and creating new options. Arajet from the Dominican Republic is going to be a very good option. We want to fill Jamaica. Everyone will be very welcome on the island, wherever they come from.