Jamaica plans to further expand its partnership with home-sharing platform Airbnb.
Tourism minister Edmund Bartlett says Airbnb is now a major player in the market and its 1,200 accommodations in Jamaica surpass many of Jamaica’s established hotel chains.
"Already, 32,000 visitors came to Jamaica last year via Airbnb. This level of diversity in the way accommodation is offered is broadening the base of ownership within tourism and is enabling a wider entrepreneurship to emerge," Bartlett said.
He said he will meet with Airbnb in April to advance the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) first signed last year.
The MoU seeks to develop a framework for cooperation to help diversify Jamaica’s tourism and collaborate on marketing and data sharing.
Bartlett made the comments as he toured Trench Town, which will be repositioned as a major tourist hub as the birthplace of reggae.
"Trench Town has a special appeal because of its musical start. We want to see thousands of visitors from cruise ships come here…. we are rebranding and repositioning Trench Town," said Nora Blake, executive chair of local tour operator Jammin Tours during a media briefing.
