Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, says talks are ongoing with representatives of Emirates Airlines to begin a flight from Dubai to Jamaica in early 2022. Emirates is the largest airline in the UAE, and the Middle East overall, operating more than 3,600 flights per week.

Following the wrap-up of marketing activities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday, October 24, Minister Bartlett said the round of marketing activities he and his team had with the key tourism and logistics partners in the UAE were very fruitful.

The Minister notes that this will surely result in the process of securing new investments, markets, and gateways from the Middle East, Asia/Asia Minor, and Africa to Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

“We agreed to explore the feasibility of arranging this flight, details of which are to be worked out as soon as possible. There was also a productive discussion around tourism and airline recovery prospects and the positive V-shape pattern being experienced by Jamaica and Dubai,” Minister Bartlett said.

Mr. Bartlett said these discussions should not be undermined, as the Emirates Airlines is of high prestige, and there is a great possibility that the country can see an increase in middle easterners tourists.

“We are committed to exploring these new markets in an effort to get our tourism sector back on track and in preparation for a post COVID-19 era… and when we know we will be back on top of the food chain, where our stakeholders can get some badly needed reprieve,” he added.

The Tourism Minister that there have also been conversations about the possibility of introducing a special service between Dubai and Jamaica, in celebration of Jamaica Day at Expo 2020, Dubai, in February 2022.