Kingston.– Even without a formal introduction to Jamaica's tourism sector, one Russian tour company said it sold 300 tour packages to the island alone last year. And that is expected to increase significantly this year, now that they have been introduced to a wider cross-section of the tourism product at the annual Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), which opened at the Hilton Kingston Hotel Friday night.

For the first time in its 18-year history of the premiere tourism trade show, 11 Russian companies attended as more of their nationals show an interest in partaking in the tourism offerings on the island.

The sector is said to be eagerly anxious to accommodate these visitors, many of whom stay an average of 10 days on each visit and are known for their taste in luxury tourism products and their ability to pay much for quality service.

Anastasia Vasilyeva of the Sunrise Tour company in Moscow said they have been getting an increase in the number of Russians showing an interest in Jamaica, despite the absence of direct flights to the island.

"There has been an increased interest of Russians wanting to come to Jamaica and so yes, this year, based on the contracts we are hoping to sign, we will have more persons coming this year," she said.

People in Russia are somewhat familiar with the Caribbean through the Cuba and Dominican Republic connections, however now they have increased their promotion of Jamaica.