Tourism Linkages Hub

Background

As priority policy, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment has targeted the development and strengthening of sustainable linkages between the tourism sector and other productive sectors of the economy — such as agriculture, manufacturing and entertainment — to which it is closely linked.

The Tourism Linkages Hub which was approved by Cabinet decision and established in June 2013 to fulfill the ministry’s mandate to create and sustain linkages throughout productive industries. The hub is funded by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment’s Tourism Enhancement Fund.

Objectives

The primary objective of the Tourism Linkages Hub is to increase the consumption of goods and services that can be competitively sourced locally. It also aims to create employment while generating and retaining the country’s foreign exchange earning potential. The Hub also aims to:

• support, facilitate and monitor the development of efficient marketing and distribution systems for local products and services required by tourism entities
•  increase market awareness and intelligence of the targeted sectors through research and analysis
• facilitate and monitor the development of more effective and efficient information and communication systems to support relationship building and trade between local suppliers of goods and services, and tourism entities
• harness and harmonize existing mechanisms and initiatives being undertaken by business associations, ministries and agencies in an effort to improve the business environment for buyers and suppliers
• contribute and provide support to the development of viable economic and fiscal policies across industries and sectors to strengthen and facilitate linkages
• create opportunities for deeper facilitation of linkages between the Entertainment and Tourism sectors
• facilitate opportunities for better networking, information-sharing and communication across sectors

Operational Structure

The Tourism Linkages Council which was established in June 2013 is comprised of key public and private sector partners who oversee the coordination and implementation of effective and sustainable strategies which strengthen and facilitate linkages.

Technical as well as other support is provided by the Technical Working Groups (TWGs) for Agriculture and Manufacturing as well as Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB) which work closely with the Tourism Linkages Hub to identify and address specific issues that may emerge from time to time to prevent minimize leakages and strengthen linkages.

Contact Information

TOURISM LINKAGES HUB
Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment
Jamaica Tourism Centre
64 Knutsford Boulevard
Kingston 5
Jamaica W.I.
Telephone: (876) 920-4926-30
Fax: (876) 920-4944
E-mail: tourismlinkages@mot.gov.jm

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