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KINGSTON — The House of Representatives has approved two sets of casino gaming regulations dealing with applications, and the games and manner of operations. Tabling the companion measures on October 18 sitting at the Jamaica Conference Centre downtown Kingston, Minister of Finance, Hon. Audley Shaw, explained that the regulations are being presented to Parliament at this time in order to...

The Ministry of Tourism through its agency the Tourism Product Development Company, TPDCo is currently training some 600 Jamaica Customs Department employees as part of that department’s push to enhance and improve customer service at all levels. The training forms part of Jamaica Customs' paradigm shift from a government entity to an Executive Agency and will see TPDCo designing and...

KINGSTON — Chairman of the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), Robert Russell, said that the tourism industry continues to show improvement in service delivery, which augers well for the growth of the sector. "This remains an encouraging indicator in light of our thrust to continue to improve our service offering and to ultimately make high-touch service the standard within our...

KINGSTON — The Ministry of Tourism, through the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), has launched an extensive public awareness HIV/AIDS campaign in an effort to reduce risky sexual behaviour within the sector. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, said the campaign will not only seek to promote HIV/AIDS awareness within the workplace, but will also aim to eliminate the stigma and...

MONTEGO BAY — President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Evelyn Smith, has described the recent Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX), as a "great success." The three-day annual hospitality and tourism trade show was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St. James,  from September 18 to 20, with more than  1,000 buyers, suppliers, overseas travel...

KINGSTON — The Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism (MOT) on a policy and strategy framework for community-based tourism projects in Jamaica. The initiative should significantly boost community tourism, using a collective approach in designing a programme to improve and standardize this aspect of the industry. Speaking at the launch of the national consultation...

MOTEGO BAY — Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is reporting a 5.7 per cent increase in visitor arrivals for January to August of this year, when compared to the similar period in 2010.  The figures are showing 2,098,964 arrivals up to August, compared to 1,985,784 for last year. Minister Bartlett, who was addressing the opening of Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX)...

KINGSTON — Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says community-based tourism has the potential to significantly boost employment for persons in rural Jamaica, while further driving the development of the product.   Speaking at the National Consultation on Community-based tourism, held at the Devonshire Restaurant at Devon House, in Kingston on September 8, Mr. Bartlett said the policy framework for the community-based...

KINGSTON — Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett, has announced that five Artisan Villages will be constructed over the next five years in resort townships, at a cost of $5 billion. Mr. Bartlett said that the villages will be built in Montego Bay, Falmouth, Port Antonio, Negril and Ocho Rios. Construction of the Artisan Village in Ocho Rios moved one step...

KINGSTON — The town of Ocho Rios in St. Ann is to benefit from major infrastructural development, costing some $1.8 billion, which is expected to see the establishment of new and exciting tourism products, over a five year period. According to Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, this development is part of plans by the Ministry to ensure that the...

MONTEGO BAY — Chairman of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), Godfrey Dyer, says the Ministry of Tourism is seeking to aggressively tap into Faith-based Tourism as a very lucrative market. "Jamaica signalled its entry into the faith-based tourism market on June 1, 2011 when we welcomed the Carnival Destiny Cruise Ship in Montego Bay with over 3,000 Christians aboard,” he...

KINGSTON — Carnival Cruise Lines has reached an agreement with the Government of Jamaica, which will guarantee cruise ship ports in Montego Bay and Ocho Rios at least 1.2 million visitors over three years. The effective date of the agreement is March 1, 2011, and it will ensure that both ports maintain current levels of cruise arrivals, despite the competition...