KINGSTON, Jamaica — Top cruise executives Arnold Donald, president and chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation, and Adam Goldstein, president and chief operating officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited, will be in Montego Bay for the Global Tourism Conference, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has announced.

The three-day United Nations World Tourism Organization conference on ‘Partnerships for jobs and inclusive growth through sustainable tourism’ is being hosted by the Government of Jamaica in partnership with the World Bank Group at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

It starts on Monday.

Bartlett noted that approximately 1,500 delegates are registered for the conference with representation from numerous countries around the globe.

“This is the first conference of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and we are in a real great position when we have the top leadership of the biggest tourism companies in the word in attendance and participating,” he said.

Senior advisor and strategist Delano Seiveright pointed out that recent heavy rains that disrupted activities in sections of downtown Montego Bay and other areas will have no impact on the conference.

“We were on the ground yesterday. The convention centre, hotels, airport, tour areas and all other related activities are far away from the affected areas. There is no impact and preparations are proceeding as normal,” Seiveright assured.

Carnival Corporation is the world’s largest cruise company with a fleet of 102 ships visiting more than 700 ports around the world. It employs 120,000 people worldwide with 10 cruise line brands attracting nearly 11.5 million guests annually or about 50 per cent of the global cruise market. Meanwhile, Royal Caribbean Cruises Limited through its brands operate a combined total of 48 ships with an additional 13 on order. The company operates diverse itineraries around the world that call on approximately 535 destinations on all continents.