International Expert to Assist in Developing Tourism Linkages Networks

KINGSTON, Jamaica; December 4, 2016: The Ministry of Tourism is set to receive strategic assistance from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in the development of its Tourism Linkages Network. This as Director of the UNWTO Affiliate Members Programme, Ms. Yolanda Perdomo-Aparicio, will be arriving in the island on December 5 on the invitation of Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, for a five-day working visit.

Ms. Perdomo-Aparicio has experience in both the public and private sectors and is an expert in tourism destination promotion and distribution. At the UNWTO, she is in charge of the shopping, city tourism, gastronomy and knowledge networks. She will be assisting the ministry in developing its networks by providing strategic guidance.

Since assuming office nine months ago, Minister Bartlett has been laying the foundation for the growth and diversification of Jamaica’s tourism industry through five networks;  Sports and Entertainment, Gastronomy, Health and Wellness, Shopping and Knowledge. They operate under the Ministry’s overarching Tourism Linkages Network which seeks to drive the development of these sub-sectors to further diversify our tourism offerings, create business opportunities and increase the use of local goods and services within the tourism sector.

Minister Bartlett said “I am delighted that Ms. Perdomo-Aparicio was able to accept my invitation and I look forward to the invaluable support she will be giving to the Linkages Network while she is here. She is truly an expert in this area and I am convinced she will provide great insight that will aid in the development of our tourism networks.”

While here, Ms. Perdomo-Aparicio will help to raise awareness among Jamaican entrepreneurs regarding the opportunities available through the networks as well as encourage entrepreneurs to participate in the activities of the Ministry of Tourism’s Linkages Network.   

She will participate in several important engagements during her visit. On Wednesday, December 7 the programme of the five new Tourism Linkages Networks will be rolled out at a Press Launch set for the Jamaica Pegasus at 10:00a.m. Later that day, Ms. Perdomo-Aparicio will address the inaugural Tourism Policy Lecture Series which will be held under the theme ‘Network Possibilities: New Opportunities for the Tourism Sector’ at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters at 6:00 p.m.

The inaugural lecture will be hosted by the UWI Department of Government, UWI Centre for Tourism and Policy Research in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and will be attended by, among others, Minister Bartlett, Chairman of the Tourism Linkages Council, Mr. Adam Stewart and UWI Principal Prof. Archibald McDonald.

Ms. Perdomo-Aparicio will attend a meeting of the Tourism Linkages Council on Thursday, December 8 and on Friday December 9 participate in a Network Stakeholders Rap Session at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Library at 9:30 a.m.