Tourism Ministry to Conduct Economic Impact Study on Proposed Hotel Room Developments  

• A Tourism Economic Impact Study will be conducted to identify the economic, fiscal, social and environmental impact of developing an additional 15,000 to 20,000 hotel rooms to augment Jamaica’s existing stock. This exercise will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Tourism, Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, announced as he closed the 2023/24 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (June 20).
• He said the study’s objectives are to identify and evaluate the potential impact of the proposed developments on the gross domestic product (GDP); foreign exchange earnings; investment; government revenue and expenditure; income and employment (direct and indirect); and key related sectors such as agriculture, construction, manufacturing and entertainment
• The study is also intended to identify and evaluate the potential impact of the proposed developments on infrastructure needs; the environment; and individuals (particularly concerning housing, transport, and recreation); as well as provide recommendations to mitigate potential negative impacts while capitalizing on positive effects, as well as a credible, rigorous evidence base to inform public awareness of the value of the tourism industry to Jamaica.
• Tourism has been one of the main drivers of growth over the years in the Jamaican economy, contributing about 29.1% in 2019 (pre-pandemic) to GDP. It has also been one of the key drivers of economic recovery in the post-pandemic environment. However, there is still room to improve on the current tourism product and diversify offerings to unlock more benefits for the economy.

(Source: JIS News)