Kingston, Jamaica: December 7, 2012 – As Jamaica gears up for the start of the upcoming winter tourist season on December 15, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and its agencies will be seeking to highlight the contribution of the sector and the role it plays in the economic development of the country, during Tourism Awareness Week (TAW), which will be observed from December 9 – 15.

This year the week will be observed under the theme: “Tourism for All: All for Tourism.” In this regard several activities have been planned across the island to increase awareness about tourism. The goal is to highlight the benefits of the industry for the entire nation, and garner the full support of all Jamaicans for tourism.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says, “this week is one of the most important periods observed on the local tourism calendar as it focuses on the Jamaican people and the important role that they must play in fostering the growth and development of the tourism sector.” He added that “we look forward to the observation of the week and expect to achieve our intended goal of building awareness about this all-important sector.”

The week’s activities commence with a Thanksgiving Service in Falmouth at the Trelawny Parish Church of St. Peter the Apostle on December 9. On Thursday December 13, Minister McNeill and tourism officials will meet with staff and officials of the Norman Manley International Airport and the Airports Authority of Jamaica to express appreciation for the significant contribution they have made to enhancing the experience of visitors to the island.

In keeping with this year’s theme of promoting all-inclusiveness in our approach to tourism, the media will play a major role and as such, a media tour has been organized for Friday, December 14. This is aimed at having members of the media fraternity experience firsthand the tourism product, and will entail a trip to key attractions in the ‘Garden Parish’ of St. Ann.

The week of activities will culminate with the official start of the Winter Tourist Season on December 15. A brief commemoration ceremony has been planned to celebrate the arrival of the first passenger for the season at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay. Minister McNeill, accompanied by the Director of Tourism, John Lynch and other tourism officials are slated to be on hand to greet the passenger. The Minister and tourism officials will also meet with staff and officials of the airport and the Airports Authority of Jamaica to express appreciation for their contribution to the sector.

Kingston, Jamaica: December 12, 2012 – Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill has announced that a Hub is to be formed within his Ministry to drive the process of establishing linkages between the tourism and other industries forward. Explaining further he said, “this Hub would be what would gather data and disseminate information, and would work with input and representation from the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA) and JAMPRO”.

The Minister was speaking at a tourism linkages meeting with senior players within the tourism and manufacturing sectors. Held at the Terra Nova Hotel yesterday, December 11, 2012, the meeting was hosted by the Minister, and is a part of his Ministry’s continuing efforts to create linkages between the tourism industry and certain key industries within the island, prime among them the agricultural and manufacturing sectors. The minister was keen to emphasize that bringing in visitors to Jamaica is not tourism’s only objective, but importantly, “we must earn more and retain more of what is earned within the Jamaican economy. It is therefore imperative that we get more value and increase the linkages between sectors. ”

Major players, representing a wide cross section of the various elements of the two sectors, turned out in their numbers to participate. President of the JHTA, Evelyn Smith who gave a broad overview of the expectations of her industry players said, “our members want to be accessed by all those who have products and services to offer us so it is important that avenues be found to increase communication between our sectors and to offer more access points to interact.” She urged the consideration of, among other things, an e-commerce platform which would allow for easier access to finding local suppliers.

With respect to moving forward, Chairman of the Tourism Economic Linkages Committee, Don Wehby told the group that he expected that within a few weeks a consensus should be reached on some of the issues discussed and the courses of action required, stressing, “I believe that this process can work to the benefit of us all.” Minister McNeill in wrapping up the meeting, said the meeting had achieved more than what was expected and “I am really happy that that the relationship between the sectors have taken on a whole other tone.”

Tourism linkages meetings have also taken place between the tourism and agriculture sectors.