Jamaica has welcomed some 32,000 cruise visitors, since the passage of hurricane Melissa on October 28.

Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett says by the end of November, the country will record approximately 64,000 cruise visitors, during the recovery period.

Montego bay, on Monday signaled its readiness for the phased resumption of tourism activities, with the homeporting of Tui Cruises Mein Schiff 1 vessel carrying 2,894 passengers.

Mr.  Bartlett underscored the importance of the ship’s arrival noting that this was the first cruise ship to visit Montego Bay post hurricane, marking the resumption of cruise shipping activities in the resort area and proving that the cruise subsector is rebounding strongly.

He added that this will contribute to the economic recovery of the country and will also benefit tourism workers.

Meantime, Chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) and member of the Tourism Recovery Task Force, Ian Dear commended public sector entities and private sector partners for their united effort in working to restore the island’s premiere resort destination.

Abiding by the task force’s mandate of coordinating the reopening and recovery of Jamaica’s tourism sector, Mr. Dear disclosed cleanup crews have activated across the resort spaces.

He also revealed that working with the St. James Municipal Corporation, a mass cleanup initiative was undertaken ahead of the arrival of the first post hurricane cruise ship.

In the meantime, in helping with Montego Bay’s Recovery,  the Mein Schiff 1 also donated 12 pallets of relief items including bottled water, food products and educational material for children.

Mr.  Bartlett underscored the importance of the ship’s arrival noting that this was the first cruise ship to visit Montego Bay post hurricane, marking the resumption of cruise shipping activities in the resort area and proving that the cruise subsector is rebounding strongly.

He added that this will contribute to the economic recovery of the country and will also benefit tourism workers.

Meantime, Chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) and member of the Tourism Recovery Task Force, Ian Dear   commended public sector entities and private sector partners for their united effort in working to restore the island’s premiere resort destination.

Abiding by the task force’s mandate of coordinating the reopening and recovery of Jamaica’s tourism sector, Mr. Dear disclosed cleanup crews have activated across the resort spaces.

He also revealed that working with the St. James Municipal Corporation, a mass cleanup initiative was undertaken ahead of the arrival of the first post hurricane cruise ship.

In the meantime, in helping with Montego Bay’s Recovery,  the Mein Schiff 1 also donated 12 pallets of relief items including bottled water, food products and educational material for children.