Jamaica Expects Multi-Million Dollar Falmouth Cruise Port To Be Open By October
The first call from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is expected in November. Government officials told Cruise Industry News the surrounding town, which is being developed by both Jamaica and Royal Caribbean, is expected to be completed within the next five years. It is unclear whether any ships besides the Oasis under the Royal Caribbean corporate umbrella will visit Falmouth, but port officials said it was under consideration.
With the addition of Falmouth, Jamaica adds a third port for cruise calls. Falmouth joints Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, where a new shopping center is under construction.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett commented: “Cruise tourism has been very strong and a main stay of our country. We’ll have a new experience in 2010 with the Oasis of the Seas which will mean more investment for the island. When thousands of people get off there need to be places to go and things to do. Arrivals will drive demand that needs to be supplied by other industries which will create more employment.”
Jamaican officials were also thrilled at tourism growth numbers for the island, noting that they experienced 4.5 percent growth in 2009 compared to 2008. By comparison, officials went onto note that projections had global tourism down between 7 and 8 percent and Caribbean tourism down 3 percent.
The first call from Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas is expected in November. Government officials told Cruise Industry News the surrounding town, which is being developed by both Jamaica and Royal Caribbean, is expected to be completed within the next five years. It is unclear whether any ships besides the Oasis under the Royal Caribbean corporate umbrella will visit Falmouth, but port officials said it was under consideration.
With the addition of Falmouth, Jamaica adds a third port for cruise calls. Falmouth joints Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, where a new shopping center is under construction.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett commented: “Cruise tourism has been very strong and a main stay of our country. We’ll have a new experience in 2010 with the Oasis of the Seas which will mean more investment for the island. When thousands of people get off there need to be places to go and things to do. Arrivals will drive demand that needs to be supplied by other industries which will create more employment.”
Jamaican officials were also thrilled at tourism growth numbers for the island, noting that they experienced 4.5 percent growth in 2009 compared to 2008. By comparison, officials went onto note that projections had global tourism down between 7 and 8 percent and Caribbean tourism down 3 percent.
posted by The Cruise Cafe | 5:34 PM
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