Kingston, Jamaica – Prime Minister, the Most Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller, along with the Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Minister of Finance and Planning, the Hon Dr. Peter Phillips yesterday met with major investors in the hotel and hospitality sector to examine ways to facilitate further investment in Jamaica, and enhance operational efficiencies within the sector.
Among the hoteliers present were owner of Iberostar, Don Miguel Fluxa, and owner of Bahia Principe, Pascal Pinero, who came to Jamaica to meet with the Prime Minister. The meeting was also attended by tourism officials including Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Director of Tourism, John Lynch, and Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, Senator Noel Sloley.
An important part of the discussion, which was held at Jamaica House, was how hotel operations can be better integrated into the fabric of business in Jamaica in order to create greater linkages with the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. Concerns surrounding the costs of investing and operating businesses in Jamaica were also raised and possible solutions examined.
Minister McNeill said, “we have had tremendous feedback from hoteliers, and what we will now do is work together to identify areas with potential for development, as well as the issues which are obstacles in the way of improving business operations.” He said further, “instrumental to us using tourism as a tool to develop Jamaica and our economy, is developing the linkages between tourism and other sectors including manufacturing and agriculture, resulting in the integration of the economy of tourism into the broader economy of Jamaica. We must now intensify our efforts to get this done.”
Jamaica’s Economic Recovery
Noting that investment is key to Jamaica’s economic recovery, Prime Minister Simpson-Miller noted that “based on what was expressed in the meeting, recommendations can now be made as to how best to facilitate the process for potential investment,” adding that “any investment made would auger well for Jamaica.” On the issue of enhancing business operations Minister McNeill noted that “we’ve looked at some of the comparative costs and the hotels are to provide us with some additional information. Going forward we will examine how we can ultimately create better efficiencies in the operations of our tourism industry.”
Also in attendance at yesterday’s meeting were Phillip Hofer and Antonio Casado of Iberostar, Gabriel Felip of Bahia Principe, Frank Sondern, Regional Director of Operations at RIU Hotels, Jamaica, Dimitri Kosvogiannis of Fiesta Jamaica and Michael McMorris, Managing Director of Seawind Key Investments (Secrets Resorts, Jamaica).
