JAMAICA, December 8, 2011.- Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett and Cuban Ambassador Yuri Gala López attended the opening ceremony of the Jamaica Air Shuttle scheduled air services (twice weekly flights) connecting the cities of Kingston and Montego Bay with Santiago de Cuba. The ceremony, sponsored by the Jamaica Air Shuttle executives, was held last Tuesday, 6th December at the downtown Knutsford Court Hotel (Kingston) and was attended by other officials from the Tourism Ministry, the President of the Jamaica Association of Travel Agents, representatives from more than 25 travel agencies; Minister Counselor Micaela Ramirez of the Cuban Embassy and other guests. In his opening remarks, Mr. Christopher Read, Managing Director of the aforementioned airline, spoke about the significance they grant to this new route of communication for the development of the relations between Cuba and Jamaica. He stated that this new service will benefit hundreds of Jamaican students who attend university in Cuba, executives, officials and multi destination tourism between both nations. In his remarks, Minister Bartlett praised the beginning of this scheduled flight service and spoke in favor of extending this type of actions which are beneficial for Jamaica and Cuba, highlighting that this air connection will contribute to a better development of the multi-destination tourism. He also stressed the importance of the development of tourism in the Caribbean region and the role Jamaica and Cuba play in this context. On the other hand, Ambassador Gala López underlined that this Jamaica Air Shuttle´s new service will increase air connection between both nations, which is advantageous for the bilateral relation. He said that Cuba has been making efforts in this regard being an example of that, the operation of Aerogaviota charter flights. In addition, he highlighted that this opening ceremony would take place within the framework of the CARICOM-Cuba Day celebrations. The attendees could see tourism posters and brochures, as well as video clips highlighting landscapes of Cuba´s flora and fauna and of its cultural and social life. (Cubaminrex/Embacuba Jamaica)
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