Copa, Go Jamaica team up to boost travel
Published:Sunday | August 12, 2018 | 12:00 AMJanet Silvera/Senior Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Copa Airlines has named Go Jamaica Travel as its official travel agency in Jamaica as part of a partnership to increase movement between Jamaica and several destinations in the Spanish-speaking Caribbean and Central and South America.
The announcement was made by Copa representatives during a product launch at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel last Thursday.
"We are partnering with Go Jamaica Travel, which will be our wholesale provider offering packages to inbound and outbound travellers to and in Jamaica," said Nicole Cunningham, Copa Airlines sales executive.
DETAILS OF AGREEMENT
Under the arrangement, Go Jamaica Travel will handle inbound and outbound packages for Copa, offering special packages that include airfare, travel insurance, ground transfers, hotel accommodation, and tours.
The destinations include Montego Bay and Kingston, Jamaica; Canc?n and Mexico City, Mexico; Havana, Cuba; Lima, Peru; Rio de Janiero, Brazil; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Santiago, Chile.
Dave Chin Tung, chief executive officer of Go Jamaica Travel, said that the partnership was reflective of a significant growth in travel between Jamaica and destinations, particularly in Central and South America. He noted that the Jamaican tourism authorities have been paying keen attention to bringing more visitors from South America, and the partnership between his company and Copa would assist in those efforts.
In addition to increased travel out of South America into Jamaica, the Go Jamaica CEO pointed to growing travel into and out of Europe to Jamaica as a growing trend as North American travel tapers off somewhat. He said that Jamaica is set to receive more visitors out of Colombia, in particular, as growing disposable income and many holidays per year there have combined to boost travel by Colombians to various destinations around the world.
The tour company is also facilitating education and sightseeing tours to South America by Jamaicans looking for new and exciting vacation experiences.
Go Jamaica Travel, in 2017, was designated the best destination management company by The Gleaner's Hospitality Jamaica Awards.