Tourism Minister Wants Farmers to Get More Benefits from Sector

• To encourage consistency in the benefits from Jamaica’s tourism sector, the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, emphasized the importance of a greater share for the nation's farmers.
• Highlighting their pivotal role as a reliable source market for hotels, Minister Bartlett said the aim going forward is to create new avenues of collaboration. This approach will allow farmers to capitalize on available opportunities and enhance their earnings.
• While addressing farmers, business representatives, and other stakeholders in Ulster Spring, Trelawny, on September 2 — an event that saw the presentation of fifty 650-gallon water tanks to farmers — Minister Bartlett emphasized the undeniable contributions of local farmers to the tourism sector.
• Despite challenges from COVID-19, the Jamaican tourism industry has seen impressive growth over the years, welcoming millions of visitors each year. This boom has significantly elevated the demand for locally sourced agricultural products like fruits, vegetables, and spices.
• In the meantime, farmers are urged to take a closer look at the Agricultural Linkages Exchange (ALEX) programme, which serves as a platform for connecting local farmers with buyers from the tourism sector, enabling direct trade and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships. Through this programme, he said, farmers can gain access to a wider market, while hotels can source fresh, local produce sustainably.
• Mr. Bartlett highlighted that the Tourism Ministry is committed to working closely with farmers and providing the necessary support to ensure their success, noting that investments in infrastructure, technology, and market access will form the cornerstone of these efforts, empowering farmers to maximise their potential in the tourism value chain.
• The emphasis on stronger farmer-tourism sector collaboration promises a win-win situation: it bolsters the nation's agricultural sustainability, ensures tourists experience authentic Jamaican produce, and translates to economic growth by keeping revenues within the country, further enriching both sectors.

(Source: JIS News)