TALKING POINTS FOR MINISTER OF TOURISM, HON. EDMUND BARTLETT AT PRESS CONFERENCE TO PROMOTE THE ‘UNWTO, GOVERNMENT OF JAMAICA AND WORLD BANK CONFERENCE ON JOBS & INCLUSIVE GROWTH: PARTNERSHIPS FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM' BANGKOK, THAILAND WED, APRIL 26, 2017

Salutations...

·       H.E. Mr. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)

·       Delegates from UNWTO Member States

·       Representatives of the Media

·       Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning….

·       The Government of Jamaica is proud to be playing host to the upcoming UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism, which will run from November 27 to 29 in the island’s tourism capital of Montego Bay.

·       This global conference will bring together world leaders from the tourism industry along with governments, donors and international development and finance organizations, to design and coordinate an international road map and foster collaborative relationships for inclusive economic and social development by way of tourism.

·       We are expecting more than 800 international and local participants from some 157 countries to converge on Montego Bay to engage in plenary sessions and workshops on a range of subject matters pertinent to tourism, including development assistance and investment partnership opportunities.

·       I am pleased to tell you that plans are in high gear for November’s conference and we look forward to showcasing our destination, particularly within the context of sustainability and the building of public-private-partnerships.

·       Jamaica is pleased to be a part of history as this conference signals the first time that the UNWTO and its affiliate members will stage a world conference on tourism in the Caribbean or the Americas. 

·       Given the significant growth and expansion of Jamaica’s tourism sector, I believe it is fitting that we have been selected as the host country for this global event.  We have significantly expanded services, built out visitor experiences, strengthened the linkages between tourism and non-tourism sectors and increased the number of arrivals – by 5.1% in 2016.

·       There is little doubt of tourism’s vast potential as a major engine for job creation and a driving force for economic growth and development.  This is especially so for tourism dependent nations like Jamaica and the rest of the Caribbean.

·       Travel and Tourism generated 1 in 11 of the world’s jobs in 2016, translating to a total of 292 million jobs, as the sector grew by 3.3 percent, outpacing the global economy for the sixth year in a row, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council’s (WTTC) Economic Impact Report 2017.

·       The report notes that Travel and Tourism generated US$7.6 trillion worldwide, which represents 10.2 percent of global GDP when the direct, indirect and induced impacts are taken into account.

·       Additionally, global visitor exports, which is money spent by foreign visitors, accounted for 6.6 percent of total world exports and almost 30 percent of total services exported.

·       This stellar performance data speaks to the global economic impact of tourism and its ability to transform economies.

·       As we all laud tourism’s excellent global performance, however, we realize the need to put in place policies and initiatives to incorporate as many of our people into tourism as possible and maximize the benefits of the sector for all.

·       In this way we will ensure that the ultimate beneficiaries of tourism development are citizens from all walks of life and not just big business.

·       You see, Ladies and Gentlemen, tourism can only be considered truly sustainable if it generates income and decent employment, stimulates trade and linkages, and respects and protects our natural and cultural environment.

·       However, it is an unfortunate reality that despite the importance of tourism in the world economy, many countries still lag in benefitting from it.

·       In Jamaica, we have always championed a sustainable and inclusive tourism sector that will help to preserve the country’s natural and cultural resources and stimulate economic growth for the wider domestic economy.

·       The conference provides a very unique opportunity, as the world’s spotlight will be on Jamaica and by extension the Caribbean, which is heavily dependent on the economic power of tourism.

·       It is a once in a lifetime chance to showcase our sustainable tourism development best practices and demonstrate how we have been able to manage, grow and build the economic well-being of our people.

·       Jamaica’s Ministry of Tourism has excellent partners in the UNWTO, the World Bank Group and the international development firm, Chemonics International in organising this important global conference, which aims to:

o   Share proven international best practices for developing sustainable tourism partnerships

o   Develop an inventory of major international development and funding opportunities from donors, foundations and finance institutions

o   Provide governments with improved tourism development investment roadmaps to enhance success in securing donor funding and/or investor engagement

o   Create a platform for donor agencies and development banks to share experiences and identify investment opportunities.

·       Delegates can expect a meaningful event with a strong agenda of relevant and insightful topics, presented by leading regional and international speakers.

·       We know that done the right way, tourism has tremendous capacity to create decent jobs, provide opportunities for inclusion and education, and contribute to preserving cultural heritage and the environment. This high-level conference will guide us how to do it right by providing a strategic framework for leveraging tourism as a catalyst for global economic recovery and development.

·       We look forward to a successful conference and to having you and your country representatives join us in what promises to be three days of productive and results-oriented discussion.

Thank you.