THE MINISTRY of Tourism and Sport and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), yesterday downplayed the planned pull-out of at least four cruise ships from Jamaica.
They said in a joint statement yesterday that "attributing redeployment of cruise ships to harassment in Jamaica is inaccurate and misleading."
The Gleaner reported yesterday that Costa Lines, which has been sending ships to Jamaica for the past decade, would be pulling its flagship, "Costa Victoria" from Ocho Rios at the end of April. The country stands to lose at least US$1.5 million as a result.
But, as far as the Ministry and the JTB are concerned, "redeployment of cruise ships to other destinations is a marketing strategy which cruise lines adopt from time to time, to take advantage of the options available in the industry." "These options include new ports of call, ports incentives, fuel and operational costs and other variables," a joint statement said. It added that "attributing redeployment of cruise ships to harassment in Jamaica is inaccurate and misleading."
The statement said that whereas the "Costa Victoria", Sea Princess" and "Enchantment of the Seas" were being deployed to other ports, Jamaica would receive new calls from the "Switzerland", "Grandeur of the Seas" and "Rhapsody of the Seas".
They acknowledged that harassment continued to be a matter of concern but said improvements in port operations, the activities of the Resort Patrol and efforts to enhance the experience of cruise visitors in Ocho Rios have resulted in a significant reduction in passenger complaints as reported by the cruise lines.
