MONTEGO BAY – Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett has announced that a hospitality industry training school is to be built in Montego Bay.
Outlining projects to further boost the tourist industry in Jamaica, Minister Bartlett told representatives of Jamaican and Caribbean media houses in South Florida last Friday (Sept. 21) that while the school will function as a hotel, it is intended to increase and prepare skilled personnel for all aspects of the tourist industry.
The Minister also announced the establishment of a craft design school in Western Jamaica to enhance the authenticity of local craft production as well as show the high standard of creative genius of the Jamaican people.
The country, he said, has to be prepared for a tourism renaissance by lifting the level of production, improving the quality of service and providing a greater level of competence. In addition, Jamaicans must benefit fully from every dollar spent in the industry, stated Bartlett.
Announcing other developments to take place in the tourist areas, Minister Bartlett spoke of preservation in the eco-system, identifying Fern Gully area to become a ‘bush garden’ area, as a tourist attraction, re-routing vehicular traffic.
He also mentioned that Port Antonio would be transformed into an upscale center of the tourist industry and occupying boutique ships.
Plans were also in place to address the restructuring of Port Royal as part of the tourism overall development program.
While there were plans for development in related areas such as eco-tourism, entertainment, cultural and health tourism, the Minister said that there were also proposals to redefine other areas which would also form the export cluster of Jamaica – tourism, manufacturing and agriculture. He noted that there were tremendous advantages to the economy in revolutionizing the industry emphasizing “tourism has both a competitive and comparative advantage.”
Turning to the Diaspora, Mr. Bartlett cited the relationship of the Diaspora to tourism, explaining vital areas of linkage, firstly, the Diaspora being a market, and secondly, described Jamaicans as the first contact or impression that formed a critical view of our homeland, he added.
He further reiterated the importance of the Diaspora to Jamaica’s economic development, through investment opportunities in the tourism sector as well.
Prior to the media presentation, the Minister also held meetings with cruise line executives and was introduced to the staff of the Jamaica Tourist Board here in the USA.
Accompanying the Minister were Director of the Jamaica Tourist Board, Mr. Basil Smith and Director General in the Ministry of Tourism, Ms. Carrole Guntley.
