Kingston, Jamaica: May 26, 2015 – History will be created when Jamaica, represented by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, chairs the 100^th session of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), being held in Rovinj, Croatia, from May 27-29, 2015.   Minister McNeill left the island on Monday, May 25.

Jamaica was elected Chairman the UNWTO Executive Council for the year 2014-2015, a first for an English-speaking Caribbean country.

Some 200 participants from UNWTO Members States as well as representatives of the UNWTO Associate and Affiliate Members are expected to attend the Session.  Among the issues to be addressed at the high-level meeting are strategies to mainstream tourism in the global agenda, an assessment of the performance of international tourism in 2014 and the outlook for 2015.

Following the UNWTO Executive Council session, Minister McNeill will travel to London, England, to meet with representatives of the Jamaica Tourist Board as well as other strategic tourism partners.

Minister McNeill is being accompanied to Croatia by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Jennifer Griffith. 

KINGSTON, JAMAICA: May 24, 2015 – As part of Jamaica’s continued push to have the Blue and John Crow Mountains designated as a World Heritage Site, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has provided over $ 13 million to date to support the venture. This is in-keeping with TEF’s primary mandate to enhance the tourism product including developing and safeguarding heritage sites and points of interest. The project is being executed under a partnership between the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment and its agencies, and the Ministry of Youth and Culture.

Included in the $ 13 million allocated by TEF, is the latest tranche of over $ 4.6 million, which was approved recently to facilitate a trip by a Jamaican contingent to Bonn, Germany where they will defend Jamaica’s nomination at the 39^th session of the World Heritage Committee Meeting, which runs from June 28 – July 8, 2015.

Success of the application will see the Blue and John Crow Mountains listed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a place of special cultural of physical significance (or World Heritage Site).

The list is maintained by the international World Heritage Programme administered by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. It names, catalogues and most importantly conserves sites which are deemed to be of outstanding cultural or natural importance to the common heritage of humanity. In some instances listed sites can also obtain funds from the World Heritage Fund.

In January 2014, the TEF provided some $ 3. 4 million to facilitate the finalization of the dossier to support the nomination of the Blue and John Crow Mountains for addition to the list. In September 2014, another $5.3 million was granted to facilitate pre-evaluation visits to several Maroon sites and evaluation of the area by international advisory bodies.

In expressing pleasure at the progress of the venture Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill said “this is a very important project which is aimed at preserving one of the most scenic and environmentally diverse areas in Jamaica. The Blue and John Crow Mountains are a key component of our beautiful landscape, and no doubt will attract the growing number of travellers with a special interest in culture.”

Executive Director of the TEF, Mr. Clyde Harrison, underscored that the preservation and enhancement of heritage sites remains a key focus of the TEF.  “The TEF remains committed to supporting this venture, which will ultimately benefit every Jamaican by helping to safeguard this important area. As we mark our 10^th anniversary we will continue to focus on these types of programmes, that will ensure the preservation of our heritage sites for generations to come,” he said.

Sites inscribed on the World Heritage List also benefit from the expansion and implementation of a comprehensive management plan which sets out adequate monitoring mechanisms and preservation measures. To facilitate this, experts often provide technical training for the local site management team.

Kingston, Jamaica: May 20, 2015 – Hundreds of patrons who flocked to Hope Gardens last Sunday (May 17) were treated to a spectacular and unforgettable showcase of Jamaican Dance by some 35 dance groups and individuals  at the  fourth staging of ‘Arts in the Park’.

Performances ranged from traditional folk forms like Kumina and Junkanoo to contemporary Dancehall and Street Dance by schools and institutions such as Portmore Missionary, Stella Maris and Ardenne High. Several dance troupes also displayed their talent such as the National Dance Theatre Company (NDTC), Dance Theatre Xaymaca and L’Acadco Dance Force with solo performances by Raddy Rich and Lindsay Lodenquai.

The ‘Arts in the Park’- Dance Edition was hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment in association with the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) and the Edna Manley  College of the Visual and Performing Arts. It forms part of an ongoing effort by the Ministry to develop the local entertainment industry by providing opportunities for artistes in various creative sectors to further develop their career and gain international exposure.

In lauding the stellar lineup of dancers, State Minister for Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Damion Crawford, said, “the dancers delivered some excellent performances and the large turnout for Arts in the Park - Dance Edition is proof of the appreciation of the exceptional dance talent that we have in Jamaica.” He added that “it was truly a celebration of dance which showcased various aspects of our culture in a very entertaining way.”

Minister Crawford said he was pleased too with the reaction of the international talent scouts who were in Jamaica to network with the dancers, give valuable advice and watch their performances. These included Ms. Virginie Mecene, Artistic Director, Graham 2 and Director Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance; Mr. Troy Powell, Artistic Director, Ailey II; Ms. Fatima Wilson, Head of Commercial & Dance, Bloc NYC; Dr. Barry Burch of the African American Dance Ensemble and Tanisha Scott, MTV nominated Choreographer for, among others, Beyonce, Rihanna and Sean Paul. 

Chairman of the Entertainment Advisory Board (EAB), Kingsley Cooper, said, “we cannot over-emphasize the value of the business networking opportunities facilitated by Arts in the Park. Particularly the Master Classes which were held before the show to allow the talent scouts to interact directly with local dancers and see first-hand Jamaica’s considerable talent.”

He outlined that “the international talent scouts were so impressed with the tremendous talent of our performers that some have given commitments to provide several scholarships and other overseas opportunities to local dancers.”

The ‘Arts in the Park’ initiative was conceived by the Ministry’s Entertainment Advisory Board to increase the quality of local entertainment offerings, while providing international booking agents and talent scouts opportunities to sign local acts and experience the “best of Jamaica”.  It is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and several stakeholders from the entertainment sector and creative industries.

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.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, May 18, 2015:  Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is pressing for a regional approach to growing the Caribbean tourism market.

“Our regional governments must continue to work together to strengthen our ties with meaningful cooperation as we build a strong, multi-destination industry,” said Minister McNeill ahead of going to Haiti on Tuesday (May 19) to participate in the International Seminar on Multidestination Opportunities for Regional Integration with fellow regional Ministers of Tourism, which is being jointly organized by the Haitian Government and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).  

Addressing a regional gathering of more than 600 Rotarians at the Rotary District 7020 Banquet at the Half Moon Resort Saturday night, Minister McNeill noted that he anticipated a high level of collaboration and the sharing of ideas at the Haiti consultation.  “It is crucial that we hold our own in a global industry that necessitates that we keep at the top of our game,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister McNeill continues to be upbeat on growth prospects for the local tourist industry. "Our industry has been an important part of our economy for many years. As a matter of fact, our marketing arm, the Jamaica Tourist Board, is celebrating its 60^th anniversary this year and we are proud of the work that it has done for Jamaica,” he told Rotarians as he underscored the importance of the industry to the country’s socio-economic development.

With the industry topping the two million mark in visitor stopovers in the last two consecutive years, Minister McNeill said he expects the trend to continue. “Tourism is performing well and we are seeing a resurgence of investment in the country.  Plans are well advanced for the construction of over 3000 new rooms,” he said.

Minister McNeill stressed, however, that “just bringing investments to Jamaica is not what tourism does; what makes tourism important in Jamaica is the impact that it has on the socio-economic life of every single Jamaican.” Consequently, while seeking to bring more visitors to the country, “we are also trying to increase the impact that tourism has on Jamaica,” he said.

Turning to the Rotarians, Minister McNeill welcomed their choice of Jamaica for their 41^st annual District Conference to train leaders in Rotary International District 7020.  The five-day conference ended with Saturday’s night’s banquet.  He said Jamaica was fortunate to be able to attract so many people from so many countries across the region for this prestigious event. 

Minister McNeill described the service organization as one of the world’s most respected and effective volunteer groups. As the push to grow the tourism sector continues, he underscored the need for all parties, government, private sector, NGOs and organisations such as Rotary, to be engaged, adding, “You can readily understand why the work of Rotary is so important to us.  Your high standards of community building and creative programmes support these aspects of the tourism industry. We warmly welcome the work you do in our communities across this entire region of which we are all a part and where tourism is so important.”

Kingston, Jamaica: May 17, 2015 - Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, 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 on 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 panellists 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.

A STABLE FOUNDATION FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

SECTION I

Mr. Speaker,

• Today it is my honour to bring down the curtain on the Sectoral Debate for the Fiscal Year 2015-2016.
   
• This year’s Budget Debate was historic in that it concluded before the start of the Financial Year; that is by the end of March.
   
• We were scheduled to start the Sectoral Presentations on April 7 but delayed this for a week because of the visit of the President of the United States, Barack Obama.
   
•  We therefore started on April 14 and here we are, just three weeks later, and we have finished the Sectoral debate.

 

Mr. Speaker,

• We also started the year with a new format that has worked well. Our presentations were limited to 45 minutes for Ministers and 30 minutes for Opposition Spokespersons. Our not being able to speak for two or three hours compelled us to be more disciplined, selective and efficient
   
• We had to use other means such as Ministry Papers to ensure that various aspects of our work will be placed on the record in Hansard.
   
• These shorter presentations received better than usual coverage in the media and therefore had greater reach. It is also obvious that my colleague Members of this House found the presentations more intriguing and catered to their attention span as almost 70% of us stayed the course for the duration of each sitting – which is not usually the case.  There were some other interesting consequences too
   
• Further, Mr. Speaker, I must also give my support to the introduction of technology as part of our presentations as we must move with the times. This additional innovation no doubt piqued the interest of the technology-savvy younger generation. However, Mr. Speaker, we must balance the technology so that it does not become a distraction but rather an effective tool of communication.
   
• Mr. Speaker, I just want to put on record our congratulations to the Leader of the House, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, who spearheaded this initiative.  We can all agree that we are moving in the right direction.

 

SECTION II

Mr. Speaker,

What we are trying to do is to set “A stable foundation for growth and development”.

We are half way through a four-year medium-term Extended Fund Facility with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). This arrangement was necessary due to the state in which we found the economy when we took office.  

With great discipline on the part of the Administration and the sacrifice and pain of the people of this country we have passed every test. We are now beginning to see a clearer path on which we can build on this stable foundation for growth and development which has been created.

So, Mr. Speaker, the Sectoral Presentations took place in light of the Minister of Finance reporting that:

Our inflation rate is at the lowest it has been since 1968 – that is before some of us were born.

Interest rates are trending down and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) have rebounded to US$490 million – up from US$218 million in 2011.

Based on this economic performance investor confidence is at its highest since we started such surveys.

 So, Mr. Speaker, this is why the theme of our sectoral presentations was a stable foundation for growth and development. But before we can realize this growth we must first take some other essential steps. We must have an educated populace. Our people must have adequate health care. We must ensure that our energy supply is stable and affordable and we must take care of the most vulnerable in our society.

We intend to put these things in place Mr. Speaker.

 

EDUCATION

Mr. Speaker,

In light of the importance of education in achieving this outcome the Minister of Education in his presentation stated that an educated work force is a prerequisite for growth and development, hence the importance of a relevant education agenda and strategy.

 We have seen improved results in Grade 4 and GSAT tests.

Last year we reduced the number of schools on the shift system by 12 and this year another 22 will be removed.

We are also focusing on those areas that will lead to more and better-paying jobs for our people. We have to train our people to perform in traditional sectors, the emerging sectors and for the global labour market.

We have just learnt of the introduction of the new programme which will see the transformation of selected high schools into the Science, Technology, Engineer and Mathematics (STEM) academies.

HEART/NTA is also being repositioned to focus on the creation of a comprehensive national training agency to drive workforce development.

As the Minister so eloquently puts it – having an educated and trained workforce is more valuable than bauxite in the ground and crops in the field. A good education is an essential tool for national development and personal achievement.

 

HEALTH

Mr. Speaker,

Another prerequisite for a stable foundation is a healthy populace. We readily acknowledge that we have been facing serious challenges in our health sector. That is why the Minister of Health announced yesterday that the Ministry has been allocated J$48 billion for this Financial Year up from last year’s J$40 billion – an increase of 18%. It is the largest increase in the non-debt expenditure in any area of this Budget.

We have doubled the pharmaceutical budget to J$8 billion; the equipment budget has been increased from J$80 million to over J$500 million and the Ministry is acquiring 19 new ambulances. It has also signed a contract for US$14 million to acquire two state-of-the-art linear accelerator machines to move the cost of radiology treatment for cancer to J$0 for the most vulnerable. The Ministry has now begun designing a Ten-Year Development Plan for the sector.

 

NATIONAL SECURITY

Mr. Speaker,

We must unite around the issue of national security. It has a profound and far-reaching social and economic impact.   In his presentation the Minister made the point that  murder and all serious crimes are down from  its peak  of 1692 in 2009 to just over 1005 last year – a decrease of over 40%.  There is no disputing that this is still too high but we are trending in the right direction.

We continue to fight crime with all the tools that we can get our hands on. We continue to pass groundbreaking legislation aimed at assisting investigations and punishing serious offenders while at the same time removing oppressive consequences for minor offences.

The DNA bill tabled during the Minister’s presentation is an important advance in the fight against crime.

MOCA is making serious inroads in combating corruption and improving police accountability.

Mr. Speaker, we have adopted a partnership approach which focuses on building a foundation of trust between police and the citizens.

Mr. Speaker, we are going to continue to fight the scourge of crime as it is an important component for building a stable foundation.

 

PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE

But Mr. Speaker,

While the foregoing information served to underscore that the initiatives being adopted are designed to ensure that we have an educated work force; a functioning health sector and that energy costs are under control.

While focusing on their effective implementation we have not lost sight of the unwavering commitment of this Government to protect the most vulnerable in our society. This is why, as Minister of Social Security reported, we have increased spending on the PATH programme – a cumulative improvement of over 30% in the value of payments;.

There are other initiatives by the Ministry which include the provision of transportation for children who are on the PATH programme who are not attending school because they cannot afford the cost of transportation.

The Ministry has also developed a graduation strategy that provides a training grant and finances to   train and equip young people to move from welfare to work.

Mr. Speaker, we intend to continue protecting the poor and vulnerable while building a stable foundation for growth and development.  We are optimistic that we are going to have growth and this was embodied in the presentations in the sectoral debate.

 

ENERGY

Mr. Speaker,

The cost of energy affects all of us. The Minister stated for the record that to date, the price of electricity is 30% less than it was when we took office as a result of the decrease in oil prices.  However, in an abundance of caution our government has taken steps to hedge against future sharp increases in the cost of oil to ensure stability by establishing a stabilization fund.

We plan also to increase the proportion of renewable energy mix; diversify the fossil fuel sources for the bulk of our electricity needs; and increase the efficiency of generating units through the replacement of old and inefficient units.

Mr. Speaker the Government has established the joint public/private Energy Sector Team (ESET) and has

accepted their recommendations which address the second and third strategies of diversifying our fuel mix and ensuring more efficient power generation.

As this plan unfolds, it will involve an investment of over US$1.5 billion in a three-year time-frame. On completion, Jamaica will be provided with adequate, stable and cheaper electricity.

 

BAUXITE/ALUMINA

We continue to push in the important sector of bauxite and alumina.  Tomorrow (Thursday) the Minister will tour the new mining operations at RUSAL, which are now in progress. When this opens fully it will create new jobs in the area.

 

BPO

Another area with exciting growth potential is the BPO.  This exciting service industry has been making a significant contribution to the IT sector.  It continues to fuel investment and job creation.  The sector is expected to add at least another 6400 jobs in the 2015/2016 financial year. The Government is developing the framework to harness the full potential of this cutting edge industry. 

Our strategic objective is to move Jamaica up in the value chain in the BPO industry from simple call centres to knowledge processing centre.  The focus is on outsourcing more professional services such as legal and accounting support as well as software development.

 

INFRASTRUCTURE

Mr. Speaker,

A number of the sectoral presentations by my colleague Ministers signal a very exciting period in the coming 24 months in terms of growth projections.

 With regard to infrastructure, the Minister of Transport and Housing reported that:

• The construction of the North South Highway is progressing apace.
• The developers have promised that Segment 2 of the Bypass should be open by early next year with completion of the entire roadway by or before December 2016. This represents an investment well in excess of US$600 million.

Other important road works are moving ahead under the Major Infrastructure Development Programme. $1.5 Billion dollars has been earmarked to finance the rehabilitation of approximately 60 kilometres of roadways, and $127 million for repairs and reconstruction of six bridges.

Among some of the notable achievements was the successful implementation of the Jamaica Emergency Employment Programme (JEEP).

Of note, the Minister also announced that bids are in for the divestment of the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA) and are being considered.

With the opening of the highway this airport will become a more attractive gateway for passengers traveling to destinations such as Ocho Rios as the time to travel from Kingston to that area will be almost the same as traveling by way of the Sangster International Airport.

 

KCT

Another major achievement was the signing of the Agreement with TerminalLink/CMA CGM Consortium for the privatization of the Kingston Container Terminal. The arrangement is a long-term concession, which will include the expansion, financing, operation, maintenance, and transformation of the terminal.

This project will do a lot to enhance Jamaica’s efficiency and competitiveness as a country.

Interestingly, the Minister also spoke of the 1400 new rooms to come on stream to be developed by China Harbour.  This will have a positive impact on our tourism product.

 

TOURISM

Mr. Speaker,

The tourism sector, with our exemplary partnership with stakeholders, continues to hold its own as the country’s chief source of foreign exchange earnings. For the 2014 calendar year, earnings were in excess of US$2.2 billion – a 5.8% increase over the previous year. In the healthy investment climate created by this Government we attracted investment of J$54 billion with the building, renovation and upgrading of several resort properties.

We achieved another major milestone when we welcomed over 2 million stopover visitors and our cruise passenger arrivals were the best ever. We saw an increase of 12%, with over 1.4 million arrivals.

In total, Jamaica welcomed over 3.5 million visitors to the island in 2014.

Construction on the books to begin now will add 1500 to our room stock and several other new hotel projects at the planning and design stages will add another 1600 rooms.  With the addition to the 1400 over the next three to five years projections are that we will have in excess of 4000 new rooms all told.

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has undertaken significant rehabilitation and upgrading across the country. These developments represent expenditure by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) of over J$1.5 Billion. Further significant upgrading work will continue throughout the current year which will be an infusion into the economy and will help develop our tourism industry.

AGRO PARKS

 Mr. Speaker,

The Agro Park programme continues. There are now nine Agro Parks with an output of 1.7 million kilograms of produce and employing 1428 people.

We will continue to expand this programme.  Also, for the first six months of this year we have had a 2.6% increase in domestic agricultural production.  We understand that driving agriculture is important.  We will continue to do so as it is not only an important area for growth in the economy and also because of its potential for foreign exchange earnings.

 

DECRIMINALISATION & POTENTIAL ECONOMIC BENEFIT

Mr. Speaker,

The landmark legislation that made amendments to the Drug Enforcement Act which decriminalized the use of small amounts of ganja understandably attracted great public interest both here and overseas.

It makes legal practices which have been long held by our people both in its use as a sacrament and for its medicinal benefits. In addition to this validation of traditional belief and practice various Ministers examined its implications in reference to their own portfolio responsibilities.  Ministers Paulwell and Hylton looked at it from the perspective of benefits to business and my own interest is in its potential for health tourism.

The Cannabis Licensing Authority has been established to monitor its cultivation and distribution for medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes.

I want to stress again that the smoking of ganja by children and youths under 18 years old is strictly forbidden. It is illegal. The National Council on Drug Abuse will receive increased funding to ensure early intervention in treating any young person caught smoking weed or who show symptoms of addiction.

A public education programme is being developed to explain the amendments to the law.

 

CONCLUSION

In closing, Mr. Speaker, we have made significant steps towards stabilization by putting in place various economic initiatives.  Based on these projects that are now on the books across all sectors we are already seeing progress.

At this time, Mr. Speaker, l must pay tribute to you; my fellow parliamentarians for their vigorous participation; and to the staff of Parliament for their customary efficiency and hard work that has facilitated these sectoral presentations. Thanks to the media for their extensive coverage that kept the people informed.

I close this chapter in our parliamentary history with a sense of real optimism which is shared by our local investors as the survey indicates that we have built a stable foundation for growth and development. All that is left for us is to seize the moment. Take advantage of opportunities as they present themselves.

My final words are to the parents and caregivers of our nation’s children. We can and must do better to protect them. We have long passed the days of slavery when having children was a benefit to our slave masters who regarded us as goods and chattel.  I appeal to everyone, especially to our men to own, to love and care for their children. On this we can and surely must all unite as a people.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica: June 8, 2015: As the tourism sector continues to register growth, moves are afoot to ensure tighter regulation in order to boost compliance with the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) Act and safeguard the sustainability of the industry.

The disclosure was made by Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill at the 54^th annual general meeting of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, held at the Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa recently.

Citing that growth in visitor arrivals has been trending upwards, Minister McNeill underscored that “while we seek to grow our tourism sector we also have to regulate the industry.”

“We are ramping up our efforts to boost compliance with guidelines within the sector.  We have had ongoing consultations and will be amending the JTB Act to make it more effective by introducing stiffer penalties and increased fines,” he expressed.

Minister McNeill said while most of the JHTA members were regulated there were several persons operating within the sector who refused to be compliant and in so doing placed themselves, the industry and Brand Jamaica at significant risk.

“Now it is time for action because we need to address this issue once and for all,” he said, adding that recommendations for changes to the Act will be placed before Cabinet within the next three months.

Minister McNeill highlighted that “the onus is on each and every player in the sector to comply with the relevant guidelines. Compliance with the required standards is very important to the success of our sector as it improves the overall quality of our tourism product.”

MONTEGO BAY, Jamaica, September 22, 2014: The upward trend in tourism which saw the two million-barrier in arrivals broken last year has continued into 2014 and so far there is a 2.6 percent increase over the corresponding period of 2013.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, disclosed Sunday night (September 21) that “we continue to grow out of all our source markets.”

Minister McNeill was delivering the keynote address at the opening of Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) 2014 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James.  He said, “We expect to maintain our level of stopovers this year of more than two million.”

He also disclosed that for the summer, July saw a record 221,000 stopover visitors, “the most that the country has ever recorded in a single month.”

JAPEX is the premier marketing event for the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and its partners, and over the next two days some 250 members and allied members will be interfacing with more than 300 international buyers to sell the varied Jamaican tourism products.

Against that background, Minister McNeill said the continued growth in arrivals was due largely to the work of those attending JAPEX.

He was particularly pleased that some challenges that resulted in negative growth out the United Kingdom (UK) for four consecutive years had been ironed out and at the end of August there was a seven percent positive growth.

 Airlift to Jamaica also continues to improve with Southwest Airlines opening up 48 US states to Jamaica.

Investment in hotels by both local and international investors between 2012 and 2014 now stands at approximately J$54 billion from Sagicor, RIU, Blue Diamond, Melia, Palace Resorts, Hyatt and Karisma. This has also brought new brands to the island’s product offering like Sensatori, Melia, Royalton, and Marriott.

Additionally, said Minister McNeill, several properties which have been undergoing renovation work will soon be brought back on stream such as the former Ritz Carlton which should reopen in November as the Hyatt Ziva.

He said next year summer, Jamaica will be in the market with “90 Days of Summer” capitalising on the country’s well respected creative flair and love for entertainment to provide visitors with a wide array of cultural and entertainment experiences from mid-May to mid-August each year.

The “90 Days of Summer” will package established events, like the Calabash Literary Arts Festival, Kingston on the Edge, the Ocho Rios Jazz Festival, Reggae Sumfest, Dream Weekend, the National Dance Theatre Company’s season, Caribbean Fashion Week (CFW), StyleWeek, our Reggae Film Festival and more. 

“We are also leveraging the value of reggae music in a promotional initiative dubbed Reggae Month: it’s Kingston for February.  The month-long celebration offers a wide array of events, including concerts, festivals, seminars and award shows that celebrate the many dimensions of Jamaican popular music,” said Minister McNeill.

 JHTA President, Nicola Madden-Greig, also painted a rosy picture of the tourist industry and agreed that “the outlook for 2014 looks promising.” She said the growth this year was achieved in “a very tough competitive environment.”

Mrs. Madden-Greig said, “We recognize that for us to continue to not only do well but to truly thrive, having a positive view to change and innovation is critical to us maintaining a competitive advantage.”

She noted that innovations were coming with several attractions, adding, “and with the opening of the North-South Highway the resort areas of the South Coast, Port Antonio, Kingston and the majestic Blue Mountains are in easier access to visitors seeking the diversity that Jamaica has to offer.”

According to the JHTA President, “Jamaica is not someplace you visit just once, Jamaica is a beautiful chameleon that promises unexpected joy again and again.”

Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Sharon Ffolkes-Abrahams, lauded the partnership between her ministry, through JAMPRO and the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the JHTA, the Jamaica Manufacturers Association (JMA) and Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) for coming together in staging a “Business to Business Linkage Event” at JAPEX 2014.

She attributed this to the concept of “Joined up government and partnership in Jamaica,” adding, “Together, we can make it better and as long as we work together we will accomplish great things in Jamaica.”

Kingston, Jamaica: October 23, 2014 – An impressive cadre of local, regional and international tourism stakeholders will converge in Montego Bay next month to share ideas, examine best practices and discuss strategies for advancing tourism at the Tourism Outlook Seminar (TOS) 2014.

The annual Tourism Outlook Seminar (TOS) will take place from November 20 to 21, 2014, at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James,  under the theme, “Tourism: Enhancing Social and Economic Impact”.  The two-day forum will be hosted by the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) in association with the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Preparations are in high gear for the greatly anticipated event, which will feature contributions from several local, regional and international experts. It will focus on areas such as enhancing tourism linkages for social and economic impact; crisis management; creating resonance in the vacation experience; developing the local memorabilia sector; and opportunities for partnership with the entertainment and creative industries.

Registration for the seminar is already open. Persons are being encouraged to register online and access additional information at www.visitjamaica.com/tourismseminar.

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, the Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said the Tourism Outlook Seminar will provide an ideal opportunity “to discuss how we plan to overcome the specific challenges affecting the tourism industry locally and in the region in order to enhance the social and economic impact of the sector, improve dialogue among stakeholders within the industry, and examine policies and strategies needed to boost competitiveness.”

“Tourism is one of the island’s major foreign exchange earners and is one of our largest employers of labour. It is therefore important that the full impact and contribution of the tourism industry be examined, understood and harnessed” said Minister McNeill. He also pointed out that the Tourism Outlook Seminar will provide invaluable insight to participating tourism stakeholders on how to further develop and grow the tourism sector.

Minister McNeill will give the opening address at the seminar, which will see several engaging presentations and interactive sessions over the two days featuring speakers from the UNWTO, United States Department of Justice, Solimar International, Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC) and JAMPRO, among other local and international organizations.