WESTERN BUREAU – Buoyed by last year’s 4.8 per cent increase in tourist arrivals and a number of tourism-related projects now under way, Tourism Director Paul Pennicook says that the island is on “the threshold of an era in development never before experienced in the local sector”.

“We are seeing a very encouraging rebound in tourist arrivals and we are experiencing in this country an unprecedented magnitude of tourism investment which is happening over a very short period,” Pennicook said Wednesday in Montego Bay at the official launch of International Airlink’s new service between Kingston and Montego Bay.

He added that over the past few years there has been a renewed interest in the destination by both business and leisure travellers.

“Jamaica has become a very sought-after destination, the colour of the Jamaican Flag has become a fashion statement and there has been heightened interest globally in our cultural heritage, our music, cuisine and even our language,” the tourism director argued.

He noted that last year stopover arrivals totalled 1.41 million, compared to 1.35 million the previous year.

This, he said, was achieved despite the passage of Hurricane Ivan in September which wrought damage to a portion of the island’s tourism sector.

Preliminary figures for January, Pennicook added, showed an increase in stopover visitors by more than five per cent over the corresponding period in 2004.

Pennicook said International Airlink began its operations at an ideal time, pointing out that the service would make the south coast of the island, which is now undergoing major tourist development, more accessible.

“We are more than pleased that the service has come on stream with some five round trips each day providing additional air transportation support to our increased number of visitors between Kingston and Montego Bay, and offering connections to Negril,” said Pennicook,

The new service, he added, would:

. make a direct contribution to the island’s infrastructural development by expanding the country’s air service;

. enhance the visitors’ experience, allowing more time for sightseeing and shopping; and

. assist the Jamaica Tourist Board in their mandate to promote the island as a varied destination.

Headquartered in Montego Bay, International Airlink Ltd was established just under four years ago as an offshoot of another Montego Bay-based domestic carrier, Rutair Ltd.

Prior to the commencement of the new service, the company successfully managed chartered flights between Sangster International, Ocho Rios, Port Antonio and Negril, particularly for the tourism sector.

Managing director of the company, Howard Levy, said the decision to operate the new route was based on the desire of businessmen to find a “more reasonable way” of commuting by air between Kingston and Montego Bay.

The company began servicing its new route on February 3, using a Beechcraft 1900D 19-seater aircraft, which cruises at 320 miles per hour. The US$2.5-million aircraft is said to be one of the most efficient and reliable available on the market.