Jamaica's faith-based tourism drive in motion

The Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship spent the night in Montego Bay and will left today.

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Thursday June 2, 2011 – Jamaica’s entry into the faith-based tourism market kicked off yesterday with the arrival of over 4,000 Christians aboard the Carnival Destiny cruise ship at the Montego Bay Cruise Shipping Port.

The cruise, which was organized by Praise Fest Ministries International, is the first voyage of “Cruise With A Cause” to Jamaica. 

The initiative will see the passengers, which include a host of religious leaders and music ministers, participating in several community outreach projects in schools and correctional institutions across the island. 

In welcoming the cruise to the island, Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said “this visit by Cruise With A Cause is a shot in the arm of tourism in Jamaica and more importantly provides a boost for the country’s entry into the growing faith-based tourism market.”

Minister Bartlett added that “the faith-based tourism market remains largely untapped and Jamaica has designed a marketing programme that targets that sector specifically”. 

“I am confident that with the arrival of Carnival Destiny under the Cruise With A Cause banner, Jamaica has sent a strong signal to the world that the destination is ready to enter that market,” he said.

“While Jamaica will continue to aggressively promote the product in its traditional markets, we will be focusing on the faith-based markets across the world. I am confident that Jamaica possesses all the features and attributes that will ensure that faith-based tourists will see our island as being very attractive.”

The Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship spent the night in Montego Bay and will leave today.

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