From eTN Global Travel Industry News

Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport (MBJ) is set to welcome nine additional weekly flights during the 2014-2015 cruise season, as UK-headquartered Thomson Cruises stations one of its four vessels at Montego Bay’s north coast port.

The 1,500-passenger, 600-crew Thomson Dream will convey thousands of holidaymakers from all over Europe on a spectacular Caribbean experience. The Montego Bay-based itineraries feature seven days aboard the vessel and a seven-day stay in Jamaica. Exotic ports of call include Playa del Carmen, Belize City, Havana, Puerto Limon and St. Maarten, Antigua and the Azores.

The Thomson Dream guests will appreciate Sangster International’s new World Duty Free walk-through boutique when it opens later this month. With an eclectic mix of global brands and local Jamaican specialties, there’s sure to be something to help ease the transition from Caribbean cruising to real life.

Spicy jerk chicken washed down with a Red Stripe beer in a relaxed Caribbean atmosphere. Local art installations, reggae performances and terminal facilities rendered in a bright, sun-drenched island palette. Jamaica’s legendary laid-back vibe springs to life in every detail at Sangster International Airport (MBJ), and that trend is set to continue when the boutique opens later this month.

Operated by World Duty Free, one of the world’s leading travel retailers, MBJ’s new 821-square metre duty free boutique will feature hundreds of products hand-picked to suit the shopping tastes of visitors to this island paradise. A highlight of the experience is sure to be Thinking Jamaica, where, under a thatched straw roof, guests can sample the iconic flavours of the island, including a variety of Jamaican rums and beer brands.

Even as construction continues, sales of liquor, perfume and tobacco have increased by 25 per cent, Elizabeth Scotton, chief commercial officer told The HUB. “The fact that World Duty Free selected Sangster International as its first-ever Caribbean location speaks volumes about what our airport has achieved in terms of both connectivity and the customer experience,” she added.

In less than a decade, Montego Bay’s airport has welcomed more than 30 new airlines, tripled the size of its terminal and virtually recreated the airport experience for its nearly 3.5 million, and growing, annual passengers. Recent expansions include new departure facilities, 18 additional loading bridges, ground transportation improvements and an expanded aircraft refueling system.

Vantage Airport Group is an equity shareholder in MBJ Airports Limited, which operates the airport, and has been involved in its development as a private operation since 2003. In that time, commercial revenues have increased by 183 per cent. With World Duty Free at the helm of duty free operations, that percentage is set to climb even higher, which translates into more jobs and economic contributions to Jamaica’s tourism industry.

Earlier this year, Sangster International Airport earned its most prestigious industry accolade yet: induction into Airports Council International’s Director General’s Roll of Excellence, based on its outstanding cumulative passenger survey results over a five-year period. Announced in March, MBJ is among just 22 airports worldwide to earn this accolade.

ETN is a media partner with Routes. Routes is a member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP).

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