PUERTO RICO – WestJet, a Canadian airline, will begin weekly scheduled service to the destination as of April 23 and thereafter every Saturday. In the past the Canadian market was the country’s fastest growing market.
Acting Minister of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Transportation and Telecommunications (Ministry TEATT) Cornelius de Weever on Thursday said he welcomes the return of WestJet to the country starting in April.
“During the Caribbean Travel Marketplace, we had discussions with WestJet representatives and they were impressed with the updates that we provided about the destination’s recovery. The return of visitors from the Canadian market is a very positive development for the destination and stakeholders on the island,” Minister De Weever said.
WestJet in 2016 flew 272 flights out of Toronto, Canada transporting 37, 357 passengers to the island; and out of Montreal, Canada, the airline flew 70 flights with 7,067 passengers; this represented a total of 342 flights with a total passenger count of 44, 424.
WestJet took its first flight in February 1996 and has been providing safe, friendly and affordable air travel today to more than 100 destinations in North America, Central America, the Caribbean and Europe, and to more than 175 destinations in over 20 countries through their airline partnerships.
The airline also has its own travel agency called WestJet Vacations that offers affordable, reliable and easy booking of vacation packages.
WestJet was named Best Airline in Canada and one of the best Low Cost Airlines in North America, based on authentic reviews from the travelling public on Trip Advisor, the world’s largest travel site.
The Minister of Tourism and representatives from the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau are attending the Caribbean’s largest and most important marketing event this week in San Juan, Puerto Rico, namely the Caribbean Travel Marketplace.
The Caribbean Travel Marketplace is organized by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) started on January 30 and concludes on February 1.
The CHTA Marketplace brings together hotel and destination representatives, online travel agents, tour operators, meetings incentives, conventions and exhibitions (MICE) planners, and members of the media.
Close to 500 supplier delegates from more than 200 companies across 30 countries have joined another 100-plus media representatives at this year’s event, according to CHTA.
