TORONTO — More than 300 travel advisors came out for the Toronto stop on the Jamaica Tourist Board’s Fall Destination Update roadshow, all eager to hear the latest on the destination’s recovery from Hurricane Melissa and plans for the winter season, with 400,000 seats from Canada.

Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, shared the destination’s recovery progress and what comes next.

“Melissa was able to bend us, but it could not break us. We are not bouncing back; we are bouncing forward,” said Bartlett.

The Minister noted that Jamaica welcomed more than 2.34 million stopover and cruise visitors between January and August 2026. About 80% of the island’s hotel rooms are now operational.

Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica; Angella Bennett, Regional Director of Canada, JTB; Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica

Infrastructure plans include improved road connectivity along the north coast between Ocho Rios and Sangster International Airport, proposed aviation facilities near Little London and Vernamfield and an airstrip in the Treasure Beach area.

Upgrades to existing international airports are also underway, with digital technologies and biometric systems among the measures aimed at reducing processing and waiting times.

“After a long flight, visitors want to reach their hotels and the beach quickly,” said Bartlett.

TURNING AIRLINE SEATS INTO BOOKINGS

With Jamaica’s 400,000 airline seats scheduled from Canada this winter, “our priority now is to work together to turn those seats into bookings,” Bartlett told seminar attendees.

Seat capacity from Canada to Jamaica is up 62.1% for January – April 2027, according to the JTB’s Winter 2027 Airlift Outlook. The destination is expected a grand total of 1,324,965 airline seats from all airline partners worldwide for the first four months of next year.

Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism, pointed to the importance of Canadian travel advisors and the diaspora community in maintaining confidence in the destination.

“The engagement with our loyal travel advisors and diaspora community reinforces the confidence they have in the destination which will help in our mandate of converting 400,000 airline seats to booking out of Canada for the Winter season,” said White.

Angella Bennett, Regional Director for Canada at the JTB, said the Toronto gathering had provided another opportunity to connect with the advisors who are helping bring Canadian visitors back to the island.

“Our advisors are excited and ready to sell Jamaica for the winter season and this engagement has amplified their passion for the island,” said Bennett.

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Edmund Bartlett addressing travel advisors and stakeholders at the JTB’s Oct. 23 Destination Update event at Woodbine Banquet Hall

ROADSHOW HEADS WEST

After this Ontario swing the roadshow now heads west to Calgary today, Oct. 26, at The Westin Calgary Airport. Then it’s on to Edmonton on Oct. 27 at the Delta Hotels Edmonton South, and Winnipeg on Oct. 28 at RBC Convention Centre.

Before arriving in Toronto the delegation connected with advisors and industry stakeholders in Ottawa, Kingston and London.

All three of the remaining events start at 5:30 p.m. and include a trade show, networking, dinner and presentations from the JTB and its partners.

Lead image caption: At the Toronto stop for the JTB’s Fall Destination Update roadshow are (l-r) Oral Chambers, BDM, JTB; Fiona Fennell, Public Relations and Communications Manager, JTB; Racquel Queensborough, BDM, JTB; Donovan White, Director of Tourism, Jamaica; Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Angella Bennett, Regional Director of Canada, JTB; Dan Hamilton, Sales Manager, JTB