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Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Audley Shaw, has said that while the introduction of casino gaming will not save the economy, it will help to boost earnings and bring more tourists to the island. "What we have to accept is that casinos have become very much an institutionalised part of the tourism product worldwide and it has...

Jamaica is set to host the first leg of the 2010 Kite Boarding World Cup Series at Long Bay Beach, Portland, March 25 to April 3. The 10-day tournament is expected to attract up to 1,000 visitors to see the over 50 competitors from Brazil, Wales, Norway, Spain, Poland, Australia, France, Denmark, the USA, Mexico, Italy and Jamaica. Speaking at...

Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has said that a strategy is being developed for the economic recovery of earthquake-hit Haiti, which will use elements of Jamaica's Tourism Master Plan. This strategy, called the Montego Bay Initiative, will position tourism as a main pillar for the economic development of Haiti. "The model which is being used, is really a model that...

Small hotels represent a third, or just under 10,000 of Jamaica's hotel room stock, and despite the all inclusive concept, have contributed significantly to the growth of the hospitality sector over many years. They represent the entrepreneurial spirit of many Jamaicans, President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Mr.Wayne Cummings tells JIS News, and they must receive continuous...

Small business owners in the tourism sector have been keeping their businesses afloat through financial assistance from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). Proprietor of Bubbling Springs in Middle Quarters, St Elizabeth, Lincoln Fagan, says the loan saved his property. After starting his business in 2000, Mr. Fagan confesses that it was rough getting things off the ground. "The loan has...

Minister of Tourism, the Hon Edmund Bartlett, has said that the Government will be spending some $250 million this year on two major spas, Bath, St. Thomas and Milk River, Clarendon, towards the development of Health and Wellness Tourism. Mr. Bartlett said that this was in keeping with the efforts to expand the 'mental imprint' of Destination Jamaica, worldwide. Minister...

Jamaica's tourism received another major boost Thursday (February 11), when Air Tran Airways launched nonstop services from three locations in the United States to Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay. The three inaugural flights from - the Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the Orlando International Airport and the Baltimore-Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport, touched down in Montego Bay Thursday afternoon (February 11)...

Jamaica's tourism industry continues to demonstrate positive outlook in the country's economy, with Jet Blue's inaugural flight from Orlando, Florida to the Sangster International Airport, Montego Bay, Monday (February 8) with 65 passengers on board. This flight marked the beginning of a daily non-stop flight from the busy and lucrative tropical Orlando/Miami area to Jamaica's tourist capital, Montego Bay, by...

Tourism has always been of great importance to the Jamaican economy, because of its potential to generate foreign exchange and provide jobs. Jamaican tourism workers have made a reputation for themselves internationally, which sees them in great demand, worldwide, as they are rated among the best in the world. Within the tourism sector there are many different categories of workers,...

Jamaica's tourism arrivals figures for January to December, 2009 are showing a 3.6 per cent increase over the similar period for 2008. The country welcomed over 1.8 million stop over visitors for the period and, continuing the positive trend into 2010, provisional arrivals figures for January is showing an 8.4 per cent increase over January, 2009. This was disclosed by...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, has said that growth can be achieved in tourism even in the worst of recessions, once all citizens are serious and committed to the industry. "A recession does not mean the end of the world. Our thinking then has to be not just 'out of the box' but thinking without any box at all,"...

With over 200 representatives from the Caribbean private sector, government entities and training institutions in attendance, the third Tourism Outlook Seminar, staged at the Ritz Carlton Golf and Spa Resort in Montego Bay from February 1 to 3 has been declared a success. The seminar, organised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO), was held under the theme: 'Challenges,...