KINGSTON, Jamaica — In a historic first for Jamaica and the Caribbean, Emirates Airlines, the largest airline in the Gulf Coast Countries (GCC), is now selling seats to Jamaica. This arrangement opens gateways from the Middle East, Asia and Africa to Jamaica and the rest of the region.

Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett, made the announcement on Tuesday following high-level meetings between Jamaica’s tourism officials and a team from Emirates Airlines led by Chairman of the Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, held at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai.

This groundbreaking agreement is a major outcome of Jamaica’s debut participation in the ATM, which runs from May 9 to12, 2022.

According to Bartlett, “this is a major initiative for Jamaica as it is opening the Middle Eastern gateway from Asia and North Africa. It is the first time that Destination Jamaica has been entered into the ticketing system of a GCC airline and gives the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) significant leverage to negotiate direct flights to the destination.”

Discussions began in October 2021 when Bartlett and Director of Tourism, Donovan White, made their first visit to Expo 2020 Dubai.

Both Norman Manley and Sangster international airports are now listed in the airline system, with ticket pricing available accordingly. Flights are offered with options including JFK, Newark, Boston and Orlando. One option goes through Malpensa, Italy, allowing access to the European market as well. Importantly, the flights are being sold by Emirates Holidays.

Bartlett’s trip to Dubai is part of a mega marketing tour to further boost growth in the island’s tourism industry, which includes stops in New York, Africa, Canada, Europe and Latin America, with breaks in between.