TOURIST arrivals to the island exceeded one million visitors in the first six months of the year despite the recent setback from the West
Kingston flare-up in May, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

According to Bartlett, the island recorded the highest number of stop-over arrivals in July, less than two months after the international
media focused on the three day stand-off between the security forces
and armed thugs as they sought to execute a warrant for the arrest of
former West Kingston strongman Christopher 'Dudus' Coke.

"For the first time tourist arrivals exceeded one million visitors in the first six months, moving from 971,191 in 2009 to 1,010,869 in 2010, representing an increase of 4.1 per cent," Bartlett
told the Observer.

He said the total earnings for the first six months of the year was US$1.09 billion, representing an increase of 2.4 per cent over the
similar period last year.

Bartlett attributed the increase to a strong marketing programme which the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and hoteliers embarked on in the
marketplace immediately after the flare-up.

"That performance must go against the background of the disturbance in West Kingston, as well as the volcanic ash in Iceland which disrupted
travel," Bartlett said.

The JTB marketing programme involved an intense campaign in the source markets, interfacing with overseas partners as well as an equally robust
sales pitch from hoteliers.

Bartlett said that, beginning in June, the JTB hosted a number of familiarisation trips for international media and bloggers as well as
the use of social media to get the word out that Jamaica remained open
for business. An advertising campaign was also launched.

The marketing programme, which is still ongoing, is also said to be reaping results for the winter tourist season, which begins on December
15 and continues through to April.

With July being the strongest months with more than 200,000 visitors, Bartlett said this reflected the immediate effect of the recovery drive.

Meanwhile, as Jamaica continues to tap into emerging markets, 61 buyers from Latin American and European markets converged on Montego Bay in St
James last week for the three-day Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), held
at the Secrets Hotel.

Bartlett said the staging of JAPEX, designed specifically for emerging markets, was in pursuance of a market diversification plan which will
allow Jamaica to engage more emerging markets for the winter tourist
season.