TUI, the largest European tour operator, said that Jamaica’s Olympic sprinting prowess spurred demand for an additional weekly flight and inaugural Tui cruise into the island.

“We saw the Olympics have a real effect on customer demand from the UK,” said Fiona Jennings, external communications director at Tui UK and Ireland, at a media briefing last week on the arrival of the inaugural landing of the Dreamliner aircraft in Jamaica. “During the first few weeks of the competition, searches to Jamaica were up 32 per cent, they then continued to surge while the athletics were taking place.”

It peaked during the triple win by Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren Weir in the 200 metre sprint final and when the Jamaican men’s relay team smashed the 4 x 100 metre world record.

“Due to that demand in summer 2014, we will add another weekly flight to our Jamaica Programme for our beach customers making a total of five weekly flights which will help to boost your low season and another four flights per week from winter 2014 for our cruise customers,” she said.

The increased capacity next year will result in Tui routing up to five Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft into the island weekly.

“Jamaica is an important destination for us and one we continue to invest in,” said Jennings. “We have almost doubled the number of customers we have flown into the island since 2012 and are committed to continuing to expand both our beach and cruise programme from 2014.”

Tui utilises Thomson Airways to route flights into the island via the island’s largest airport, Sangster International in Montego Bay. As a result, Thomson offers more flights to Jamaica than any other European airline, Tui indicated.

Platinum ship, Thomson Dream will dock at Montego Bay from winter 2014 from December 2014. It will be the only UK cruise ship based in Montego Bay, she claimed.

Tui will partner with large hotel chains in the parish to offer flexible durations for its cruise and stay customers including the Sensatori hotel opening in May 2014, Riu and a range of hotels, from Thomson Couples to A la Carte properties. The company will also offer boutique hotel experiences including partnering with Jamaica Inn & Coyaba and exclusive properties only available to TUI UK & I customers such as the Jewel Runaway Bay.