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Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, says tourism can play a pivotal role in the development of the country. “It therefore means that we have to look at how we can improve on the benefits of tourism, because tourism can be the answer if it is correctly managed and correctly implemented,” he said....

Jamaica possesses the distinct qualities of a vibrant emerging market with enormous possibilities for trade and investment, said Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) Corporate Communication Manager, Mark Thomas.  He noted, however, that the vast opportunities are yet untapped by investors because of the perception of Jamaica as primarily a leisure location. "From a brand perspective, in terms of how the world...

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has identified health, community, cultural and sports tourism as key areas within the industry that are ripe for investment. Speaking Thursday March 1 at the ‘Invest in Tourism Roundtable’ session, held as part of the Jamaica Investment Forum now underway at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, the Minister said that these...

Jamaica is poised for major development in the tourism and energy sectors, with plans advanced for several projects to be undertaken over the short-term. Addressing a recent JIS Think Tank, President of JAMPRO, Sancia Bennett Templer, said that the projects will boost Jamaica’s position as a major destination for doing business. In terms of tourism, she informed that the Fiesta...

As part of efforts by the Ministry of Tourism to boost airlifts, particularly out of the North East tri-state area of the United States (US), Director of Tourism, John Lynch, will leave the island this weekend for the Fifth Routes Americas Conference in Nassau, Bahamas. The conference, which will last from February 19 to 21, brings together all the major...

Speaking at the Jamaica House press briefing at the Office of the Prime Minister, on February 15, Dr. McNeill explained that  during that period, for the most part, stopover arrivals remained relatively flat, experiencing growth in only three of those months, resulting in a 0.8 decrease overall. He pointed to a number of factors which contributed to that decline, including...

With the tourist industry on a growth path, Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says the Ministry is now working on strategies to maximise the opportunities within the sector, for all Jamaicans to benefit. He argued that the industry has the potential to provide many opportunities for upward social mobility, pointing out that there is now an...

With thousands of tourists and locals visiting the parish of Trelawny weekly, particularly the town of Falmouth, to conduct business or to have fun, there have been calls for more attractions to be opened in the parish. Millions of dollars have been invested in the area in infrastructure, particularly access roads and the cruise ship pier in Falmouth, where thousands...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said that the Ministry will be looking at ways to use events such as the just concluded Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival to pull visitors to the country during weak travel periods. “One of the things we are going to have to focus on and look at seriously, is how we are going...

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, is imploring the business community and other stakeholders in the tourism industry to assist the Government in improving linkages between the industry and other sectors. “I challenge members of our business community, our farmers and manufacturers to support this drive to strengthen the linkages between tourism and all the other sectors.Be...

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said that in promoting growth in the tourism industry, greater emphasis must be placed on earning more from the country’s visitors.  He noted that for too long, “when talking about the tourism sector, we talk about growth in arrival figures…what we need to focus on now…is not just these figures…what we...

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, said that the Government and tourism stakeholders are examining the contribution of the sector to the country’s development through several studies. “At present, our Ministry is conducting a study of the economic impact of the tourism sector, which is scheduled for completion in April of this year,” he informed.  This, he...