DYER WESTERN BUREAU:
WITH THE Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) Caribbean Marketplace 2005, to be held in Montego Bay, more than three weeks away, over 1,000 delegates have already been registered for the US$1.4 million (J$84 million) event.
Speaking at Thursday's press conference to unveil the spectacular 42,000 square feet air-conditioned tent which has been erected on the grounds of the Half Moon Shopping Village, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) President Godfrey Dyer said Jamaica stands to benefit tenfold from hosting the event.
"Our hotels and attractions will benefit directly. So will our artisans, inbond merchants, restaurants, craft vendors, ground transportation operators and others," said Mr. Dyer, who is also chairman of the Marketplace host committee.
"We already have over 375 buyer delegates registered, spanning a range of countries including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bermuda, Canada, Colombia and the United States."
ASSAMBA PLEASED
In expressing pleasure at the fact that Jamaica has been selected to host marketplace for the second time since its inception in 1980, Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba said she was particularly pleased that the island is the first English-speaking Caribbean country to host the event in the past 20 years.
She said: "We are extremely happy as this could well be the largest tourism related event in Jamaica next year."
"An event like this will cause tourism interests to focus on Jamaica and for us, it will be an opportunity to showcase Jamaica and its tourism product."
In declaring that the 'shop floor', which is expected to feature over 4,000 booths will be the most important part of marketplace, Mr. Dyer said that all 36-member countries of the CHA will be involved and that he was expecting no less than 1,500 buyer and supplier delegates.
