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Enhancing the skills of workers and improving service delivery are two main objectives of Team Jamaica, a training and certification programme conducted by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) for persons employed or associated with the hospitality and tourism sector. “This is a move for quality service improvement and seeks to provide tourism personnel with the knowledge, interpersonal skills and...

The Government is exploring the possibility of establishing an entertainment/creative industries registry as part of efforts to build the industry while ensuring that stakeholders reap the benefits. This was disclosed by Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, during a public consultation at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston on May 15. Mr. Crawford...

Cabinet has approved the construction of a US$200 million medical facility in St. James, as the Government looks to tap into the multi-billion dollar global health tourism industry. Minister of Health, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, who made the announcement in an interview with JIS News, said that construction of the facility represents the first formal health tourism project for Jamaica. The...

Jamaica has secured airlift out of several South American and Eastern European countries, which is expected to bring thousands of visitors to the island for the summer and winter months. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, made the announcement on Monday, April 29, at a Jamaica Product Exchange(JAPEX) media roundtable at the Half Moon Hotel in Montego...

The 23rd staging of the island’s premier tourism trade show, Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), got underway at the Montego Bay Convention Centre Sunday, April 28, with hundreds of local and international participants. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, who addressed the opening, said the large turnout of buyers, suppliers, travel agents and media practitioners from the traditional...

With the first business day of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), on April 29, still in full swing, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham, McNeill is expressing pleasure at the large number of deals being conducted. He said the negotiations, being carried out on the floor of the Montego Bay Convention Centre, bodes well for the future of...

MONTEGO BAY: Tourism and Entertainment Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is reporting a 6.8 per cent increase in the occupancy levels of small hotels islandwide, by visitors to Jamaica in 2012, compared to 2011.  “This is significant and we look forward to this segment (small hotels) holding its own, in light of the anticipated increases in visitor arrivals from the...

There are significant investments in the current upgrading of several tourism properties involving new owners and brands that are expected to enhance the attractiveness of Jamaica as a destination. This was revealed by Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, when he opened the 2013/14 Budget Debate in the House of Representatives, on April 18. He informed that...

A modern Hyperbaric Chamber, to treat decompression illness in divers, was officially commissioned into service at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Discovery Bay marine laboratory, in St. Ann, on March 13. The unit is capable of accommodating up to five persons at a time, and was built at a cost of approximately $34 million. It replaces an outdated...

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has received an additional 15 vehicles to strengthen its crime fighting efforts in resort areas across five rural parishes. The brand-new Toyota Corolla motor cars, acquired by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) at a cost of $28.2 million, were handed over to Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, during a ceremony held on Wednesday, February 27,...

Actor, Erik Nicolaisen, who starred in the Volkswagen (VW) “Get Happy” commercial, is in the island at the invitation of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) to participate in promotional activities for destination Jamaica. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, and Director of Tourism, John Lynch, were on hand to greet Mr. Nicolaisen on his arrival on Monday,...

Actor, Erik Nicolaisen, who starred in the Volkswagen (VW) “Get Happy” commercial, is in the island at the invitation of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) to participate in promotional activities for destination Jamaica. Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, and Director of Tourism, John Lynch, were on hand to greet Mr. Nicolaisen on his arrival on Monday,...