Kingston, Jamaica: September 10, 2014 – As the tourism sector continues to experience steady growth the Ministry of Tourism & Entertainment and its agencies will seek to raise awareness of the vital contribution that the sector makes to Jamaica’s social and economic development during Tourism Awareness Week (TAW) 2014. The extended week, which promises a full roster of activities, will be observed from September 21 to October 1.

The week will incorporate World Tourism Day which will be recognized on September 27. TAW 2014 is being held under the theme: “Tourism and Community Development”, which is consistent with the theme selected by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) for World Tourism Day globally.

The theme underscores the potential of tourism to empower people and provide them with the skills and opportunities to achieve change in their communities. In addition, it promotes the role that community engagement has in advancing sustainable tourism development.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said, “Community based tourism holds tremendous potential as a means of reducing poverty and expanding employment creation. This is why we are moving as a Ministry to introduce a Community Based Tourism Policy.” He added that “I am therefore very pleased that this year’s Tourism Awareness Week theme provides the opportunity to highlight the tremendous value that tourism adds to the achievement of economic, social and environmental well-being at both the national and the community levels.”

Tourism Awareness Week kicks off with Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX 2014), which will be held from September 21 – 23, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.  The three-day trade show is the single most important business generator for the island's tourism product, and brings together travel wholesalers and tour operators from Europe and the Americas with Jamaica's leading tourism suppliers to conduct business negotiations.

Following close on the heels of JAPEX will be the launch of the Clive Taffe Retrospective Tourism Exhibition, which begin its island tour at the Tom Redcam Library in Kingston on September 25.  Mr. Taffe, who passed away earlier this year, worked with the Jamaica Tourist Board for over 50 years.  The exhibition will honour  Taffe’s memory and his many years of dedicated service to the tourism industry.

Additionally, as Director of Tourism, Mr. Paul Pennicook, explained “we are partnering with the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) and the Social Development Commission (SDC) on this important initiative. The various chapters of the JHTA will be hosting activities in observance of the week. For instance children and teachers will be taken on visits to hotels, villas, and attractions while JHTA members will visit schools to make special presentations on the theme.”

He said that “an essay competition is also being organized for primary and high school students, on aspects of the theme for the week. A seminar is also being planned for representatives from community groups that are involved in community tourism projects as well as a visit to an infirmary.” 

On World Tourism Day the ministry and its agencies will host a Community Tourism Fun Day, which will be held at the Milk River Hotel and Spa in Clarendon.  A Tourism Awareness Week Church Service will be held at the Ocho Rios Baptist Church on September 28, and TAW 2014 will culminate on October 1 with a Community Tourism Familiarization Tour in the Cockpit Country.

KINGSTON, Jamaica: September 9, 2014: Efforts to establish a central body to coordinate the development of the craft sector took a major leap today as the newly appointed Craft Council of Jamaica had its inaugural meeting, signalling the commencement of a strategic process to totally streamline the craft sector.

In underscoring the importance of the new body Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said “though craft cuts across a number of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, up to this point there was no central body to coordinate the push to oversee the development of the craft sector in its entirety and monitor the quality of the items produced and sold as authentic Jamaican craft. So this Council will be that body.”

Minister McNeill outlined that “there are many long-standing issues which we must resolve in order to effectively develop the sector and harness its potential. Prime among them is the need to implement a proper governance structure and regulatory framework. He added that “this new Craft Council will serve as an integral mechanism to facilitate these changes and foster the sustainable development of the sector.”

The Council will serve as an interim body and includes representatives of local craft traders and producers as well as other stakeholder groups.  These include, the Port Authority of Jamaica, the Ministry of Industry Investment and Commerce, through the Jamaica Business Development Corporation, the Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and the Ministry of Youth & Culture.

It was emphasized that in recognizing the need to more strategically streamline the industry and increase its contribution to the local economy, Cabinet has endorsed the development of a policy for craft.

The Craft Policy is intended to modernize the sector and has several objectives. Among them is to streamline the sector by facilitating incremental improvements in areas such as quality, variety, customer satisfaction and profits to the entire industry. It also seeks to facilitate the sustainable growth of the craft industry and will also promote greater local identity of finished craft and souvenirs. It will foster innovation, greater regulation, as well as better production and distribution.

Minister McNeill stressed that “the Council will play a pivotal role in overseeing the development of the policy. A crucial step in implementing the craft policy will be the establishment of a central legally constituted Craft Authority which will administer this process.”

State Minister in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Damion Crawford expressed that “craft is a very important industry and once we organize it sufficiently and market it effectively then there is no reason why it can’t be a very profitable sector. This Craft Council will help to drive this process and ensure that the various players in the sector have a say in the development of craft overall.”

Chairman of the new Craft Council, Mary Helen Reece said “I feel honoured to be asked to Chair this important body and I look forward to working with the various stakeholders in the industry to implement the governance structures and regulations needed to transform the craft industry.”

KINGSTON, Jamaica: September 3, 2014: Over forty representatives from regional organizations including the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and the University of the West Indies (UWI) are currently in Kingston to attend a three-day Regional Tourism Satellite Account (TSA) Workshop to continue the work of advancing the use of TSA systems and improving the quality of tourism statistics in the region.

The TSA workshop got underway today (September 3) at the Courtleigh Hotel, New Kingston, under the theme: “Establishing a Sustainable Synergy Between Technological Best Practices and Tourism Satellite Accounts”.  It is being coordinated by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) with the assistance of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN), and funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

The TSA is a standard framework for organizing statistical data on tourism, and assessing its impact and relationship with other sectors and on a nation’s balance of payments.

In her welcome address, Permanent Secretary in Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith, noted that Jamaica has been very supportive and actively involved in the CTO’s Tourism Satellite Accounting projects, including the European Union funded ‘Caribbean Regional Sustainable Tourism Development Programme’ (2003 and 2008), as well as the current IDB funded ‘Regional Tourism Satellite Account Implementation Initiative’. “We therefore welcome this meeting at this particular juncture and the broader initiative to better quantify the contribution of tourism to the wider economy,” said Mrs. Griffith.

“We in the Caribbean, have mostly tourism dependent economies, therefore we share an interest in, and stand to benefit from, any initiative that seeks to strengthen institutional capacity for better assessments of the economic impact of tourism,” said the permanent secretary.She added that, “in this regard, continued efforts aimed at the harmonization and standardization of statistical approaches and methodologies as well as the adoption of electronic tools to enhance the TSA development process represent important strides in the right direction.”

Stressing that a Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment commissioned Tourism Economic Impact Study estimated tourism’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at 7%, Ms Griffith said that Jamaica has benefitted from TSAs and has relied on them in a number of major planning exercises for the tourism industry. 

However, while recognizing the value of TSAs in strategic and policy planning, and their ability to contribute to national and regional destination competitiveness, she noted that there are still unresolved challenges that limit their full potential.  For example, the TSA can only provide the direct contributions of tourism to GDP and does not address the indirect and induced impacts.

“Collectively we must find a way to tackle these issues. I take the opportunity to encourage you to seek appropriate strategies to address them. Frank discussion on the challenges faced will enable all the governments in our region to more accurately measure the contribution of tourism to our economies,” Ms. Griffith concluded.

In her remarks to workshop participants, Director General of STATIN, Ms. Carol Coy, said Jamaica like a number of other Caribbean countries relies heavily on the tourism industry as a major earner of foreign exchange as well as employment creation. “Statistics on tourism are therefore necessary to assess the industry’s full impact throughout the economy as this will allow for evidenced based policy and decision making,” she said.

The STATIN Director General noted that in the Caribbean most tourism indicators have traditionally been non-monetary; for example, visitor arrivals, bed nights, number of rooms, and occupancy rates.  She said, however, that this type of information is not sufficient to develop sound economic analysis of the industry, adding that “reliable tourism statistics and analysis of its economic contribution are therefore critical elements for planning and analysis, and for stakeholders to effectively advocate for the industry given the scarce resources facing our governments.”

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.

Statement by

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill

                                congratulating former Director General, Carrole Guntley                                            

                               on Receiving the Caribbean Tourism Organization’s                                              

Lifetime Achievement Award

June 6, 2014

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill has congratulated former Director General in the Ministry, Carrole Guntley on receiving the coveted Caribbean Tourism Organization’s (CTO) Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ms. Guntley received the award today, June 6, 2014, during CTO’s Caribbean Week in New York activities. Minister McNeill said “I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to Carrole Guntley on her latest recognition by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) with its Lifetime Achievement Award.  Her work and dedication to Jamaica’s tourism industry as well the wider Caribbean region is exemplary and makes her a most deserving candidate for this special award.

The award is testimony to her long and distinguished service in the industry, having served in the private and public sectors in a variety of capacities: Area Manager for Jamaica, St. Maarten & Western Caribbean for BWIA, European Marketing Manager for the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Jamaica’s first female Director of Tourism and more recently Director General in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment.

It was during her tenure in the late eighties as Jamaica’s Director of Tourism that the island achieved the landmark target of hosting one million visitors.

Over the years Ms. Guntley has demonstrated an insight which I am confident will continue to be of benefit to the region. Her accomplishments over the past few decades span not only the airline and accommodation sectors, where she has consistently demonstrated great vision and perseverance, but have been admired by the Jamaican government as well as industry colleagues.

I commend her for her hard work, high standards and true commitment to the hospitality industry and towards ensuring its sustainability. Once again, I am very pleased to extend my sincere congratulations on this prestigious and most deserving award and I wish her every success in her future endeavours.”