10,000 Russian tourists visit Jamaica

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Just over 10,000 Russian tourists visited the island over an eight month period with the establishment of a direct flight from the European country to Jamaica this year.

Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill speaking at the Jamaica Observer Press Club Thursday said the number of Russian visitors represented a 644 per cent increase over the same period in the previous year. The direct flight from Russia started in January 2013.

Meanwhile, McNeill upbeat about the pros-pects in the sector, said that British Airways will be adding a fourth flight into Kingston in May 2014, while European travel group Touristik Union international (TUI) will bring in additional flights during the simmer.