Gov’t Developing Robust Tourism Strategy

• A robust strategy that will better enable Jamaicans to tap into the vast potential of the local tourism sector is being developed by the Government. The move is in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and involves key stakeholders in the industry. It will address economic growth, environmental sustainability, cultural preservation, and quality of life issues.
• Addressing the first Tourism Strategy Development Workshop at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James, on June 2, Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said that a well-defined tourism strategy and action plan “will help us identify the strengths and weaknesses of our tourism industry, chart our goals and objectives, and define the road map to achieve them”.
• He noted that while the country remains a prime tourist destination, attracting millions of visitors from all over the world every year, it has to evolve to maintain a competitive edge over rival destinations.
• As such, the Minister highlighted that the need for a strong and comprehensive tourism strategy will further drive economic growth and development.
• The focus on the sector is important given that tourism now generates direct employment for 175,000 Jamaicans and indirect employment for more than 354,000 others, including farmers, craft vendors, entertainers and transportation operators. The development of the strategy aims to make tourism inclusive, and an even bigger driver of economic development in years to come.

(Source: JIS News)