DOLPHIN Cove posted $139 million in net profit for the three months to June 30.

Earnings for the quarter represented 35 per cent

growth over the comparative period in 2013.

A representative of the water-based attraction told the Jamaica Observer that the upturn in profits resulted from a management decision to pump greater investments in sales and marketing of the attraction.

Increased marketing efforts resulted in increased “numbers of tourist visiting the establishment, but a noticeable increase in the number of locals as well”.

“As you can imagine, we had increased [marketing] activity strategically at the airports, as the first point of entry for tourists in the island, as well as a significant portion of the budget was spent doing promotions in the hotels, where the visitors are based,” said the company representative.

He said that it is still too early to determine how much more local business the new north-south highway link will bring to Dolphin Cove, but he expects the “local customer base will grow even more when the second phase of the highway is completed in January 2016, as this will significantly cut the travel time to Ocho Rios”.

The company, which saw its operating revenue climb by 17 per cent to $461 million for the review quarter, also attributed higher profits to the implementation of cost containment measures, which ensured that the growth in

sales outstripped that of operating expense.

“We have implemented an in-house expense meter, where each department is given monthly payment targets that are tracked daily” in an effort to keep expenses down” the representative explained.

Operating expenses for the three months to June 30 totalled $282 million, compared to $242 million in the corresponding period in 2013.

Dolphin Cove recently acquired two additional dolphins, which the company says is in keeping with their expansion plans.

The marine park operator expects to spend some US$6 million ($680 million) initially to develop its three overseas locations in two Caribbean territories.

The company plans to build two locations in Turks & Caicos Islands (Grand Turk and Providenciales) and a third in St Lucia.

Currently, Dolphin Cove operates three locations — Montego Bay, Ocho Rios and Hanover.