Hundreds of tourism buyers and suppliers for Japex 2015

HUNDREDS OF overseas buyers and local suppliers in the tourism sector are expected to converge at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St James, from September 20 to 22 for the 25th staging of Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX).

The annual event, put on by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), offers the ideal forum for leading suppliers of the country's tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators, in a professionally organised business exchange.

In three days of pre-scheduled appointments, wholesalers, tour operators and travel agents will meet face-to-face with close to 200 of Jamaica's leading tourism suppliers to conduct business negotiations and engage in discussions and tours of hotels and attractions.

Elaborating on activities for this year's staging, President of the JHTA, Nicola Madden-Greig, noted that "for the fourth year, we will partner with providers of goods and services to the hospitality sector so that our supplier delegates will have the opportunity to be exposed to the many excellent products and services available here in Jamaica".

facilitate linkages

This element, she said, "is critical as we continue the thrust to facilitate as many linkages as possible between tourism and other sectors of our economy".

Another feature of JAPEX 2015, she revealed, is the staging of two seminars on Sunday, September 20, which will address issues pertinent to the industry and also allow JHTA members to garner relevant information to make strategic decisions.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Dr Wykeham McNeill in his message to mark this year's staging, said that JAPEX provides an invaluable opportunity to make connections and deepen relations that will assist in building the tourism product while strengthening linkages with the domestic economy.

"JAPEX 2014 was a great success, attracting hundreds of buyer delegates, media, and travel writers from traditional and emerging markets," he noted.

Last year, the Tourism Linkages Hub and its partners coordinated the participation of more than 80 local suppliers of goods and ser-vices in keeping with the ongoing effort to improve the linkages between tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and other sectors of the economy.