Faith-Based Planners in Island for Site visits

A group of 16 faith-based meeting planners from the United States of America (USA) are in the island to participate in a “destination update” organised by the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB).
The group, which arrived in Jamaica yesterday (May 13), will spend five days on the island, where they will go on site visits to Ocho Rios and Montego Bay, including the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall. They will also network with members of the local Christian community and religious leaders.
JTB Regional Director for Groups and Conventions, Ms. Marcia Bullock, said that the island is an ideal destination for religious groups.
“Many of Jamaica’s hotels and resorts have the facilities to cater to groups of all sizes, large and small. The destination is ideal for hosting faith-based retreats, and with a plethora of spiritual places of worship, the island is a sanctuary for people to celebrate their faith,” she said.
Ms. Bullock noted the Montego Bay Convention Centre, which is slated to open in January, 2011, “will expand Jamaica’s capacity to accommodate groups up to a maximum of 5,000 and ultimately boost the island’s position as a meeting mecca for convention groups.”
Jamaica is featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the most churches per square mile. As a member of the Religious Conference Management Association (RCMA), Jamaica holds the distinction of being the first and only Caribbean country to host its own Religious Marketplace.
Recently, Jamaica was also home to the inaugural Jewish Diaspora of the Caribbean Conference, held in the island’s capital Kingston, which garnered global support and helped to unveil the island’s vibrant Jewish culture and heritage.
While in Jamaica, there are countless opportunities for groups to volunteer and participate in community outreach programmes. These initiatives, which are operated by places of worship, clubs, societies and service organisations, help to enrich people’s lives and aid in the development of local communities.