Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Sandals International Resorts, Shawn DaCosta, says despite the impact COVID-19 has had on the tourism industry globally, persons still have not lost their appetite for travelling. Pointing to the 80 per cent occupancy at the flagship Sandals Montego Bay property for the month of July, Mr. DaCosta said Jamaica is both strategically placed and so...

The world renowned Dunn’s River Falls and theme park in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, has been recording an uptick in patronage since being reopened to the public on July 21, following a four-month closure due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.   The popular 28-acre facility got the go-ahead from the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) on July 17 to...

Small and medium-sized enterprises in the tourism and agriculture sectors are set to benefit from grants of up to US$500,000, through the second phase of the Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI II). Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) is implementing the initiative under a US$40-million loan from the World Bank. Managing Director at JSIF, Omar Sweeney told JIS News that entities...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government is working to build the capacity of small and medium-sized tourism enterprises (SMTEs) to increase earnings from the sector. He noted that while 80 per cent of tourism worldwide is driven by SMTEs, “only 20 per cent of the returns from tourism go to this particular sector”. “We want to build...

British Airways’ announcement of new London Gatwick to Montego Bay flights, beginning October 13, is being hailed by local tourism stakeholders as a major step in Jamaica’s COVID-19 road to recovery. Highly regarded as one of the most popular European air carriers, the new flights will be operated by World Traveller, World Traveller Plus and Club World, and will depart...

The ‘Rediscover Jamaica’ campaign, which encourages Jamaicans to taste, see, feel and enjoy the country’s tourism product, was officially launched on July 22. The domestic marketing campaign also encourages persons living on the island to feel good again, by going out and enjoying the sights, scenes and taste of the island. Speaking at the official launch at The Jamaica Pegasus,...

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the Government is working to establish Jamaica as a tourism supply hub that will serve the needs of the global industry, starting with human capital. He said that the idea is to “build the capacity of our people to provide stackable credentials to enable mobility and portability”, which will enable them to seek...