Tourism Minister Commends JTB on Fall 2015 Campaign

Kingston, Jamaica – May 18, 2015: Tourism Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, today (May 18) commended the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) on spearheading a campaign in major international markets in partnership with the local accommodations and attractions sectors. The campaign is to drive continued increase in arrivals during the Fall Season.

“The Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) continues to be a strong partner and it is most heartening to see the attractions sector join with us in this new initiative.

“We continue to work to increase visitor arrivals in the sector with all its spinoff benefits.  It is also heartening to acknowledge another positive development in the sector which has seen crimes against visitors continuing to trend downwards over the past three years.

“The Ministry is also engaged in an awareness campaign to educate all Jamaicans on the benefits of tourism not only to residents in resort areas but to all Jamaicans,” he concluded.

The Minister was speaking prior to his departure for Haiti where he will moderate a panel discussion at the International Seminar: Multidestination Opportunities for Regional Integration, to be held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, from May 19 to 22, 2015. He departs for Haiti tomorrow (Tuesday, May 19).

While in Haiti Minister McNeill will also participate in the 58th meeting of the UNWTO Commission for the Americas being held on Thursday, May 21. Both the Commission meeting and the international seminar are being jointly organized by the Haitian Government and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

The panel discussion is entitled ‘The importance of Tourism routes as part of regional cooperation agreements’. It includes panelists Cecilia Álvarez-Correa, Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Colombia; Marcela Bacigalupo, Minister of Tourism, Paraguay; Maru Acevedo, Deputy Director, Guatemala Tourism Institute (INGUAT), Guatemala; Manuel Marrero Cruz, Minister of Tourism, Cuba; and a representative from the Silk Road Programme, UNWTO.

Minister McNeill is being accompanied to Haiti by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith. He returns to the island on Friday, May 22, 2015.