ST JAMES, Jamaica — Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, will be leaving the island to attend a World Routes Conference in Chengdu, China, from September 25 to 27.

The minister said that World Routes is the central meeting place for airline industry powerbrokers to discuss and implement air service.

“This is where all of the wheeling and dealing takes place. We have to remember that the whole issue of connectivity is central to growth,” Bartlett explained.

“We have recognised that the emerging markets in Asia are going to be very strong and we have to position ourselves. In fact, the fastest-growing area in the world for outgoing tourism today is South East Asia. Those are the largest number of people that are flying,” he said.

Bartlett also pointed out that China has 120 million visitors going to different parts of the world and it is important for Jamaica to make a play for a slice of that market.

“Part of the discussions at the World Routes Council will be about connectivity and who goes where. There will be talks about route planning and we want to be there to make our presence felt and our intentions known,” the minister said.

Bartlett added that there are immediate plans for connections through different places, and there are talks about a connection between Air China and Air Canada into Montego Bay.