KINGSTON, Jamaica – On Wednesday (Nov. 14) night, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) hosted ‘The Digital Journey of Destination Jamaica’ to celebrate the island’s digital transformation and the valuable investments in technology.
Through technology, travel and tourism is ripe for disruption that touches every phase of the visitor experience, from arranging plans to discovering new destinations with a local perspective.
VisitJamaica.com is Destination Jamaica’s portal where consumers can get information and inspiration to enhance every step of their experience, and ensure tourism success in the future.
“The key drivers of digital transformation are profitability, visitor satisfaction, and increased speed-to-market,” said Donovan White, Jamaica’s Director of Tourism. “As a destination, we want to ensure that the visitor has a memorable experience throughout their journey – from the dream phase to the advocacy phase. Tonight is the start of an incredible journey. The VisitJamaica.com portal will become the single call-to-action of all our activities on the island.”
Destination Jamaica
The new portal has several exciting features. First, it uses augmented reality (AR) to help visitors imagine their trip. Second, it includes artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze searches and customize results. Third, it offers biometrics for online pre-clearance and plans to install kiosks at the airport to reduce congestion. Fourth, there is a mobile app for users to get itineraries, flight updates, and boarding passes.
Users can also talk to customer service and connect on social media. Finally, the portal provides island-wide Wi-Fi so visitors can share their experiences in real time.
Jamaica is making great progress in technology. However, the key to its growth is investing in people. Tourism relies on meaningful human interactions that encourage visitors to return.
“To be successful, we need to create a balance between the technological innovations and the human element. Improving the visitor experience must always be on the forefront of our minds when investing in technology, but it must be done without losing sight of the human connection,” Director White added. “We have the best experiences, the best culture and the best delivery system for all this – our people. The commitment to service excellence considerably contributes to Jamaica’s appeal as a premier tourist destination.”
