TORONTO — The 2021 edition of JAPEX, originally scheduled for Nov. 8 – 10, has been postponed until early 2022.

Hosted annually by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) in association with the Jamaica Tourist Board ((JTB), the JAPEX tourism industry trade show was planned as a hybrid in-person/virtual event for 2021.

Commenting on the decision to postpone until early 2022, JHTA President, Clifton Reader, says the event “is expected to benefit from the opening up of global borders and the uptick in overseas travel after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our overseas partners in the travel trade – tour operators, travel agents, travel media – are all geared up to resume negotiations with our Jamaican suppliers in the hospitality and tourism sector and we look forward to extending our world-renowned hospitality and hosting them in the style to which they have been accustomed, here in Jamaica,” he added.

Donovan White, the JTB’s Director of Tourism, notes that, “JAPEX has traditionally been an in-person event, however, the global pandemic had moved us to change its structure to a hybrid event. However, it is our hope that by delaying the event, we may be able to generate robust in-person attendance for JAPEX when it takes place early next year.”

White continued: “Demand for Jamaica’s tourism product remains strong, and we are confident that our world-class Jamaica CARES health and safety protocols, including our Resilient Corridors, will ensure yet another successful event in the near future.”

Jamaica remains open for travel and continues to welcome visitors safely. Its health and safety protocols were among the first to receive the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Safe Travels recognition that allowed the destination to safely reopen to travel in June 2020. The island has also recently announced new cruise developments and ninety percent of planned tourist investments remaining on track.

As White noted earlier this fall, in an interview with Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett, and the JTB’s Regional Director of Tourism – Canada, Angella Bennett, forward bookings from Canada are rapidly ticking up and are now at 65% of 2019 levels.

More information on Jamaica’s COVID-19 protocols and more can be found at visitjamaica.com.