Bartlett welcomes “faith based” tourists

MONTEGO BAY — Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has announced that approximately 5,000 Christian cruise ship passengers and crew members will visit Montego Bay, aboard the “Carnival Destiny”, on June 1 to participate in Jamaica Praise Fest 2011, to be staged at the Dump Up Beach, June 1-4.

The cruise passengers, from the United States, will play a leading role in the mission, dubbed “Cruise with a Cause” set to kick-start Jamaica’s involvement in faith-based tourism.

They will be engaged in Christian ministries in western Jamaica’s schools, as well as prisons and other institutions across the island, and will distribute literature and school supplies to over 130,000 students in 230 schools.

A joint effort between the internationally known Praise Fest Ministries and Dove Ministries, the mission is aimed at reaching souls through ministries conducted by world renown Christians. Events and activities over the four days will culminate with a grand concert featuring acclaimed Christian artistes and evangelists, including Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker and Byron Cage, among others.

Addressing a press conference at the Tourism Centre, Montego Bay, Thursday morning, May 5 Mr. Bartlett said that the event reflects Jamaica’s “aggressive” moves to tap into the lucrative faith-based tourism market. Between May 17 and June 2, Jamaica will welcome some 4,000 faith-based tourists. May 17-25, 1,100 visitors will be coming in from the World Council of Churches, for their International Ecumenical Peace Convocation in Kingston, the first time that the convocation will be held in the Caribbean.

“We are seeing a real boom, and we are expecting that Jamaica will earn pretty close to a billion dollars over that period, from the first real intervention of faith-based tourism activities,” Mr. Bartlett said.

“I have great hope for this segment to grow and expand and, in growing and expanding, it will also enable the smaller and medium sized entities within the tourism accommodation sub-sector to find their place,” he added.

He indicated that the Ministry of Tourism was fully behind the planners and organizers of Praise Fest, and that his Ministry will commit some $100,000 to support the mission.

President of Praise Fest Ministries, Dr. Matthew Dunaway, said that the objective of the mission is to bring together people of different races, ethnicity, age and denomination to minister to people’s needs of the Gospel.

“In order for that principle of unity to come to fruition, it’s important that we realize that it’s a partnership between us and Jamaica. It’s us coming to work with Jamaica, and that’s what drives those results,” he said.

“We believe that when children and people realize and begin a relationship with Jesus Christ, that gives them purpose, and we want your children here to understand that they are children of value, and that God has a plan for each and everyone of them, and to realize that they can make something of themselves” Dr. Dunaway stated.

Mr. Bartlett congratulated the key players of Cruise with a Cause, and expressed the hope that their mission would be successful. He also extended condolences to persons in the south-eastern U.S. who were victims of the recent tornados there.

By GLENIS  ROSE, JIS REGIONAL OFFICE