64 Knutsford Boulevard, Kingston 5, Jamaica
: (876) 920-4926-30 | : info@mot.gov.jm

You are here

GREETINGS FROM MRS. JENNIFER GRIFFITH, PERMANENT SECRETARY IN THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM, AT UTECH’S SUSTAINABLE TOURISM LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MARCH 15, 2017

SALUTATIONS

·       Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie, President of the University of Technology. Congratulations on your Installation Sir!

·       ‎Dr. Paul Golding, ‎Dean of the College of Business and Management, University of Technology

·       Dr. Gaunette Sinclair-Maragh, Associate Professor and Head of the School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Technology

·       Dr. Don Hawkins, Professor Emeritus of Management and Tourism at the George Washington University

·       Mr. Hugh Hough, Partner/President of Green Team Global, USA

·       Mrs Diana McIntyre-Pike – President of Countrystyle Community Tourism Network

·       Dr. Roosevelt Crooks – Chairman, Ocho Rios Resort Board

·       Members of Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association

·       Members of the University Council of Jamaica

·       UTech's Senior Management team

·       UTech Alumni,  and I see quite a few business leaders in the audience

·       Representatives from the University of the West Indies, the Caribbean Maritime Institute and the CCJ

·       Members of my team the Ministry, Mr David Dobson, Senior Director of Technical Services and Mrs. Elecia Myers, Senior Director, Strategic Planning and Evaluation

·       Carol Rose-Brown, Coordinator, Hospitality School and Artisan Villages, Tourism Product Development Company, TPDCo

·       Specially Invited Guests

·       Members of the Media

·       Ladies and Gentlemen

Good Evening....

It gives me great pleasure to be here this evening to bring greetings to you on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, who had already communicated early in the planning of this event that he would be unavoidably absent, since he would be returning to Jamaica today.

The Sustainable Tourism Leadership Summit is the perfect opportunity for us to focus on the very important theme of ‘Social Inclusion for National Growth and Development.’

This is a topic that is of extreme importance to us at the Ministry of Tourism. In fact, many of the activities undertaken by our agencies and divisions place special emphasis on this, particularly as we join the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in marking 2017 as the Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

During the year, the UNWTO will be organizing a series of activities globally that promote: social inclusiveness, resource efficiency, cultural values, safety and sustainable growth, to name a few. Locally our Ministry will also follow suit, through the strategic promotion of sustainability in tourism throughout the year. I am very proud to share that our first activity to celebrate the designation of 2017 as the United Nation’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development was the Falmouth Invasion March and Sensitization Concert – which took place in February.

The initiative was aimed at encouraging residents and business interests to keep the resort town clean and foster civic pride. This is the very embodiment of what today’s summit underscores – the significant impact social inclusion can have on the growth and development of communities and by extension an entire nation.

Our yearlong activities will culminate with a major UNWTO global conference, which will be hosted by Jamaica from November 27 to 29 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

This international conference is of great significance to global tourism. We look forward to showcasing our destination but more so within the context of sustainability and the building of public-private-partnerships. 

Beyond our UNWTO celebrations, we have also revitalized our umbrella programme ‘Spruce Up Jamaica’ to facilitate sustainable livelihoods for the people of our great country Jamaica.

This will be done by fostering sound environmental practices, job creation, the participation of communities in local area development, facilitation of small and micro tourism enterprises (SMTEs) and effective integrated marketing communications — a vehicle for building out an inclusive industry.

In closing, I wish to thank the organizers of this flagship event, prime among them the team from the University of Technology’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management.  Your hard-work has certainly not gone unnoticed.

The Ministry of Tourism is extremely proud to partner with you and to contribute to this fantastic evening of insightful deliberations. I would also like to acknowledge our astute moderator, panellists and guest speakers. I truly look forward to hearing your views on the subject matter through your presentations.

On behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, I wish to thank you ladies and gentlemen for supporting this wonderful event.  

Thank You. 

Speech Date: 
Wednesday, May 2, 2018