TEF to Develop Heritage Trail at Lovers Leap

The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is looking to develop a heritage trail around Lovers Leap in St. Elizabeth.

Executive Director of the TEF, Clyde Harrison, said this will form part of the plans for development along the South Coast and the Fund is committed to funding the project.

“We found recently that the trail is an historic trail, leading from the house at lovers leap down to the sea,” Mr. Harrison said, while addressing a recent JIS ‘Think Tank’.

He pointed out that the project is in line with plans spearheaded by the resort Board on the South Coast, which is very active in pushing the development of the area with a series of projects.

“There’s a move afoot now to try and tie these various attractions into a type of a consistent location type management, where you can go to Black River and end up in Milk River and you can do a trail right there,” Mr. Harrison further explained.

Tourism interests and other stakeholders along the south coast often complain of lack of development in the area, which has strong appeal for visitors to the island.

However, Mr. Harrison said the Ministry of Tourism acknowledges the importance of the tourism product along the South Coast and is looking at ways to contribute to its development in partnership with the resort Board in the area.

“As we speak, it is being looked at through the Ministry of Tourism to see what can be done and how best to handle development of south coast tourism and what it offers that is so unique to backpackers, the Europeans and the new tourists. So, we’re very much aware and we’re on to it,” he noted.

Mr. Harrison said the TEF is therefore having continuous dialogue and consultations with tourists and tourism interests in the area to implement developmental projects suited for the area.

In the meantime, he told JIS News that the TEF has been actively involved in funding other projects along the South coast, such as a $30 million sports complex in Treasure Beach; the Black River Market, and mini parks in Manchester.

He further noted that all projects carried out by the TEF are done according to the mandate of the Tourism Master Plan and a comprehensive resort upgrade programme.

“So, whatever you see us undertake, we can tie back to both documents,” Mr. Harrison asserted.