NEGRIL, Westmoreland: September 3, 2014: Work is to begin this month on a $25 million project to renovate the Negril Police Station in Westmoreland.

Built in 1986, the station which serves the resort town is badly in need of repairs. The money is being made available by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), as part of its ongoing effort to further enhance safety and security in resort areas island-wide.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, announced the contribution recently at the handing over of three Yamaha motorcycles to the station to improve police patrols mostly in the West End section of the town.

Minister McNeill said the need to enhance security was put on the front burner some three months ago at a community meeting attended by himself and  Minister of National Security, the Hon. Peter Bunting.

He said, “along with a number of other stations, especially in the resort areas, the Tourism Enhancement Fund has taken a look at them and we will be addressing some of the police stations that are of particular interest.”

He added that, “already $25 million has been allocated for the repair of the police station here in Negril and by the end of this month work is scheduled to start on the refurbishing so that the conditions under which the officers serve will be much better.”

Minister McNeill expressed appreciation for the work being done by the security forces to keep the community safe, adding that, “of course, our visitors want and expect to be safe and from the Jamaican point of view, what you want more than anything else is a sense of security and safety; it allows us to be productive (and) it allows the country to really flourish.”

He assured Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Area One, Gary Griffiths, that “anything we can do to help you keep us safer we intend to do.”

In welcoming the announcement, Actg. ACP Griffiths said, “I cannot overemphasize our gratitude for the work to be done here on the Negril police station.”

Kingston Jamaica: September 2, 2014 - The first batch of police officers to be trained as team trainers in The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd.’s (TPDCo.) flagship “Team Jamaica” programme completed this rigorous exercise in Kingston recently.  Over six days, the group  of eighteen were taken, through an intensive training programme, which included sessions on tourism, including tourism awareness, trends in tourism, impact of tourism, marketing of Jamaica and the Tourist Board Act.  The officers were exposed to topics on coaching, leadership and motivation; professionalism; adult learning methodology; technology in training and other aspects of Jamaica’s culture, history and the environment. 

These officers will now coordinate and train groups of rank and file members of the JCF in tourism matters towards certification in the “Team Jamaica” programme, which is recommended for all tourism industry personnel.

According to TPDCo’s Executive Director, Mr. Dennis Hickey “the objective of the exercise is to expose the men and women of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) to the business of tourism, while strengthening the human resources in the tourism industry in general.  I expect that the participants will be enthusiastic to impart the material they have assimilated over the period to the rank and file members, especially those who will be serving as tourism liaison officers”. 

Sergeant Julio Francis of the Port Antonio Tourism Liaison Office was awarded “Best Team Player” while Corporal Winston Harris of the Community Safety & Security Branch Headquarters, Kingston was recognized as the “Best Presenter” of the group.  In response to the training Corporal Harris said “it was an excellent eye opener for me.  I learned the difference between giving information and facilitating learning.  I had my dreams realized, enjoyed every second of it and the quality of my presentations will make a dramatic improvement.”

The training was made possible through sponsorship support from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) to the tune of one point four million dollars ($1,400,000.00).

A second batch of fifteen (15) officers will be trained as Team Trainers in September, 2014 as the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment continues its efforts to sensitize police personnel to the peculiarities of the tourism industry.

About TPDCo

The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment whose mission is to facilitate the diversification, development and improvement of the tourism product, utilizing an experienced and qualified staff to enhance visitor experience by building consensus and strategic alliances with industry stakeholders in order to engender socio economic growth. Its Training Department offers courses in Tour Guiding, Protocol and Professional Etiquette several other hospitality skills areas and its leading training programme, “Team Jamaica.”

NEGRIL, Westmoreland: August 31, 2014: As part of an ongoing effort to further enhance safety and security in resort areas island-wide, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, through the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), has been pumping millions of dollars into boosting the crime fighting efforts of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF).

The latest move in this initiative was the donation of three Yamaha motorcycles to the Negril police on Friday, August 29, 2014.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, formally handed over the motorcycles by presenting the keys to Acting Assistant Commissioner for Area One, Gary Griffiths, at the Negril Police Station in Westmoreland.

Minister McNeill stressed that, “for the development of our economy as Jamaicans, we have to ensure that we can boost safety and security in our country.” He pointed out that an important part of crime fighting was the mobility of lawmen as “you can’t simply chase criminals on foot; you have to be mobile and it’s a problem that has to be resolved.”

For its part, over the past few years the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment has been collaborating with the Ministry of National Security to enhance crime fighting efforts.

In December 2013, 15 vehicles were donated to the security forces at a cost of over $45 million, matching a similar gesture the year before. Minister McNeill said, “in discussions with Minister Peter Bunting we again intend to look at the issue of motor vehicles for the police force this year because we recognize how important it is to have enhanced mobility.”

The decision to donate the Yamaha motorcycles arose out of a community meeting attended by Ministers Bunting and McNeill about three months ago when the issue of the mobility of the police to effectively patrol the Negril West End and the hills surrounding the resort town was raised.

The motorcycles donated to the Negril police are three of several acquired by the TEF at a cost of $4.3 million. The others are being distributed to other resort areas.

Minister McNeill pleaded with the riders that “while you have to be aggressive in your fight against crime, I must ask you to care the motorcycles, because we need to ensure that even as we are donating them, we are building our fleet.”

Acting ACP Griffiths expressed thanks for the “generous contribution” and reinforced that the motorcycles were well needed. Chairman of the Negril Resort Board, Cliff Reynolds, also welcomed the move to help the police in their crime fighting efforts and said the motorcycles should make a significant difference.

Kingston, Jamaica: August 28, 2014 – The Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment has extended its open call for the submission of new and existing entertainment events to be added to the ‘Reggae Month| its Kingston for February’ 2015 calendar, to Wednesday, September 10, 2014.

State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Damion Crawford explained that “events eligible for submission are those that fall between February 1 and 28, 2015 and which are being held in the Kingston and St. Andrew metropolitan region. The proposed events must also be related to reggae or another musical art form typical of Jamaica.”

Reggae Month| its Kingston for February is an initiative of the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment aimed at using Reggae music and the cultural significance of February to attract visitors to Kingston.

To apply for endorsement, event organizers should complete and submit two original copies of the ‘Reggae Month| its Kingston for February’ endorsement form, which can be found on the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment’s website: www.mot.gov.jm/entertainment. Applications must be typed and returned to the 1^st Floor lobby at the ministry, at 64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, or by email at: entertainment@mot.gov.jm

Minister Crawford said “I would like to encourage event organizers who will be staging events which meet the standard outlined to submit their proposals for consideration as we would like wide-scale participation in this major entertainment initiative.”

Events chosen will be included in the ‘Reggae Month| its Kingston for February’ calendar for 2015, and will receive local and international promotion.

The Minister noted that completing an endorsement form is not a guarantee of funding by the ministry or its agencies.

Kingston, Jamaica: June 12, 2014: Local entertainment events are to play a pivotal role in attracting summer vacationers to the island. This as the innovative summer entertainment programme, “90 Days of Summer” announced by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment last year, has been rebranded and will be rolled-out across the entire island.  

Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford says the strategically packaged local entertainment events have been rebranded as “Jamrock Summer ‘90 Days, 90 Ways’” to give it a distinctly Jamaican identity. 

Making his Sectoral Presentation in Parliament yesterday (June 10), Minister Crawford said the launch of the initiative has been set for July 16 in Montego Bay and will entail an intensive promotional programme, using a variety of media aimed at multiple markets to attract tourists to Jamaica.

The concentration weeks and the full Jamrock Summer package will be unveiled at the launch.

“Coming out of the Jamaican press launch, we will be capturing pictures and videos to create a robust electronic press kit with a sizzle reel.  It is important to note that this launch was deliberately timed to coincide with the launch of Sumfest which happens the next day, to capitalize on international press engagement,” he said.

With social media and the internet being integral to the marketing of this programme, promotions will be managed by a local company.

According to Minister Crawford, “the Jamrock Summer Committee is embarking on the largest on-the-ground promotional campaign ever executed in the history of the nation.” The promotion will target specific hotspots that have direct airlift to Jamaica or a known reggae/dancehall/ska following with easy connections to Jamaica.” 

The programme will incorporate a college tour component targeting the 14 million undergraduate population of which one million travel for Spring Break. There will also be a college marketing effort involving the heavy use of social media that will reward students for sharing with their network and a Jamaican cultural experience focused around popular music.

Kingston, Jamaica: June 11, 2014 - Cabinet has approved the establishment of a National Registry of Entertainment Practitioners and the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment is currently streamlining the processes necessary to make the system fully operational and compliant with the new Fiscal Incentives regime.

The announcement was made by State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Damion Crawford, during his contribution to the Sectoral Debate in Parliament, on Tuesday, June 10, 2014.

“The registration period has been opened since January of this year and will end on July 31, 2014”, Minister Crawford said. He emphasized that “registration is free, so I urge all entertainment practitioners to register and capitalize on the opportunity to access tools of trade and free movement that registration and certification as a bona fide practitioner facilitates.”

The introduction of the registry is aimed at creating an inclusive and effective information hub that facilitates the delivery and administration of the processes necessary for the development of a sustainable entertainment industry. 

When operational, the registry will among other things, provide a central portal for listing Jamaican entertainment services and companies including their key profile and contact information and legitimize the entertainment industry for greater economic benefit. It will also foster efficiency and transparency within the entertainment industry and facilitate free movement of creative skills internationally and across the region.

Minister Crawford then informed Parliament that Cabinet has also approved an Event Rating System, which is intended to be a guide for entertainment practitioners and the general public on what should be offered to the public and what people should expect from entertainment events.

“We will undertake a public education campaign shortly to speak to the use of sexual content, violence and strong language in our entertainment output,” Minister Crawford added.

The rating system is intended to provide entertainment practitioners and consumers of entertainment with guidelines as to what is expected and the types of content suitable for varying audiences.  Events will be assigned ratings to indicate the degree of caution parents and the general public should exercise, and the content sponsors should take into account in determining whether an event is suitable for their consumption or their brand association.

Kingston, Jamaica: February 26, 2014 – Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, today (February 26) announced that Cabinet has approved the conditional waiving of visa requirements for nationals of the People’s Republic of China travelling to Jamaica for tourism purposes for periods of 30 days or less.

This continuing effort to diversify and develop new markets for the local hospitality industry will give Jamaica access to the largest spender in international tourism globally. In 2013, Forbes magazine reported China as having 72.5 million outbound trips for the first three quarters of 2013, representing a year on year increase of 18%.  China’s expenditure on travel abroad reached US$ 102 billion in 2012, a 40% jump from 2011, making it the number one tourism source market in the world in terms of spending.

Speaking at a post Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, Minister McNeill said, “For many years we have recognized China’s potential for growth as a tourism source market for Jamaica, but have also remained cognizant of the difficulties entailed in developing this important market.”

“Up to now, it has been difficult to achieve substantial growth in Chinese arrivals, as many Chinese citizens have had to travel great distances simply to obtain a visa from the Jamaican Embassy in Beijing,” the tourism minister added. The conditional waiver of visa requirements will ease these difficulties while harnessing the market potential.
 

Last year, Jamaica attracted 2,420 Chinese tourists, an increase of 15.1% over the previous year; while 2012 showed an increase of 24% over the previous year.  Minister McNeill noted that although the numbers are small the market has the potential for significant growth. 

Commenting on Jamaica’s longstanding friendship with China, the tourism minister said, “Our relationship with China has been very strong over the years and whereas we are looking at further developing and growing tourism trade with China, I believe our strong business connections will cause the strengthening of both sectors.”

The visa waiver announcement for Chinese nationals comes ahead of Minister McNeill and Director of Tourism, John Lynch, attending the Shanghai Trade Show in April to help strengthen the marketing efforts of the Jamaica Tourist Board and continue discussions on developing airlift arrangements from the region.  

The new visa regime will come into effect in a few weeks time, when the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Security and its agencies, institute the preliminary processes to effect a smooth implementation. 

Previously Jamaica relaxed visa requirements for nationals of Columbia, Panama, Venezuela, Russia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland Slovakia and the Ukraine. This strategy has borne fruit and produced in many cases double-digit performances in relatively short periods of time and demand for travel that has brought new airlift from those markets.

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, March 30, 2014: Plans to place the regulation of the craft industry under one governing body have taken a significant step forward as Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has revealed that the initiative was recently discussed by the Economic Development Council, which is chaired by the Prime Minister, paving the way for the establishment of a Craft Authority.

Minister McNeill outlined the framework for a Craft Policy, which will be administered by a legally constituted Craft Authority, to representatives of the island’s craft traders and producers at a consultation held recently at the offices of the Jamaica Tourist Board, (JTB) in Montego Bay. 

Craft vendors and producers were unanimous in their endorsement of the proposed Craft Authority and Craft Policy; which has four main objectives. These are to streamline the craft sector by facilitating incremental improvements in quality, variety, value, sales, customer satisfaction and profits; facilitate the sustainable growth of the craft industry in Jamaica to enable a successful enterprise; and promote greater local identity of finished craft and souvenirs, innovation, better packaging, regulation and production and distribution facilities.

In addition, the policy will outline strategic objectives, including the sourcing of raw materials, the packaging and branding of an ‘Authentic Jamaica’ brand, and ensuring that local craft producers and traditional artisans benefit from the marketing and commercial opportunities provided by the tourism industry.

Minister McNeill told the craft traders that while the legal aspects of establishing the Authority are being addressed, a Craft Council will be put in place in the interim to start streamlining the industry as a matter of urgency. The Council will include representatives of local craft traders and producers as well as other stakeholder groups.

He said the establishment of the Craft Authority will take governance of the craft industry out of the hand of the political directorate and place it before a board on which the traders and producers will have adequate representation. Through the Authority, he said they will help to determine what they want done and how resources earmarked for improvement of the sector will be disbursed.

Minister McNeill stressed that “it’s really going to be run like a company and you are going to have to make decisions that are for the greater good of the industry as everyone has to work together.”

The Minister said the Authority would maintain control and discipline in the craft markets and emphasised that, “the majority of people in the craft markets want a craft market that is a place where everyone can visit and enjoy themselves.”

Echoing the sentiments of members who described the introduction of the Craft Authority and Craft Council as “a very, very good idea,” President of the National Craft Traders and Producers Association, Mrs. Melody Haughton-Adams, said lack of unity was a major obstacle for the sector. However, she expressed that, “I am thankful for the Council. We and the producers’ association met and the very same thing was recommended.” She added that, “I am really delighted and can say that we are getting somewhere.”

Meanwhile, a representative of the craft producers, Secretary of the Jamaica Indigenous Artisan Co-operative Society (JAMIA), Michael Senior, said “the presentation was everything I imagined it to be and I’m happy.” He reiterated that JAMIA had been in dialogue with the traders association about forming a Council.

MONTEGO BAY, St. James, March 27, 2014: The Agro-Tourism Farmers’ Market, an effort initiated by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment to create sustainable linkages between the tourism industry and other sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing and entertainment has been eagerly welcomed by stakeholders in St. James.

Spearheaded by the ministry’s Tourism Linkages Hub, in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, through the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) the event had its first staging yesterday, March 26, in the parking lot of the Catherine Hall Mini Stadium, Montego Bay. Other partners include the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) to name a few.

The St. James Agro-Tourism Farmers’, was welcomed by the community and received endorsement from the Montego Bay Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the St. James Parish Council, the Culinary Federation, and the HEART Trust NTA.

President of the St. James Branch Societies of the Jamaica Agricultural Society and Mayor of Montego Bay, His Worship Councillor Glendon Harris, welcomed the initiative, saying it opens windows of opportunity for farmers and allows tourism industry players to see that the farmers are able to supply them with much of the produce they need to feed their guests.

Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce, Gloria Henry, who oversees the agro-industry portfolio, also expressed pleasure in having an agro-tourism farmers’ market in St. James. She sees it as “an excellent merging of the sectors,” as she underscored that the “agro-industry and tourism should be working much closer together than they do now.” Ms. Henry is confident the sectors can benefit from each other.

Hotel proprietor and restaurateur, Evelyn Dayes said, “it is a great idea” and urged more entities to  support the initiative.  

Vendors at the Agro-Tourism Farmers’ Market travelled from as far afield as St. Elizabeth with condiments, fruits, vegetables and other ground provision. There were also wellness products, floral and citrus potted plants, basketry, leather craft and works of art on sale.

The Jamaica Culinary Federation, RADA and Kenilworth HEART Academy demonstrated the use of local products in delightful Jamaican cuisine and treated patrons to tasty samples.

The Agro-Tourism Farmers’ Market initiative was started in Negril in October 2013 and will see the hosting of similar markets in Ocho Rios and other resort areas.

Kingston, Jamaica: March 26, 2014: Jamaica’s push to develop health and wellness tourism has received another major boost with the opening of the Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa in Kingston. The facility was officially opened by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson-Miller yesterday, March 25, 2014. The 18-room property boasts the first Semi-Contempo Spa in Jamaica, a fitness centre, chiropractic centre and offers Chinese acupuncture services.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill joined Prime Minister Simpson-Miller in welcoming the investment, citing that the property will help to further boost health and wellness tourism.

Prime Minister Simpson-Miller said “we see the private sector as our partners in development. That is why we hail this $550 million dollar investment represented in Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa. And I am happy to note that employment has moved from eight staff when it opened three years ago to 95 today.”

The Prime Minister also underscored that Jamaica has the attributes to succeed in health and wellness tourism. “We have a well-developed medical infrastructure, world-renowned cadre of nurses and doctors and have demonstrated expertise in medicine. There is no reason why Jamaica cannot attract significant investments and tourist  flow in this area,” said the Prime Minister.

Minister McNeill said, “The Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa fits perfectly into the Ministry’s strategy to reposition Kingston as a vibrant metropolitan tourist city, and also, our resolve to establish a firm foothold in the health and wellness sector of the world tourism market.”

Dr. McNeill also expressed that the continued development and diversification of the tourism product remains a major priority, which is guided by the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development. It was noted that a strategy has also been conceived to position new medical facilities that would meet international accreditation and thereby compete globally to take advantage of Jamaica’s proximity to the North American market. 

The Minister outlined that “critical to this process is the development of health and wellness tourism. The opening of this facility, together with the recent press launch of the Hospiten hospital in Montego Bay and other projects which are being brought on-stream, reinforce the policy and strategy that has been drafted and further signals that we are making significant progress.”