Gov’t Looking to Strengthen Link between Culture and Tourism

Minister of State for Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Damion Crawford, said that the government is working to strengthen the linkages between tourism and culture in an effort to show visitors more of what the country has to offer.

"Tourism can play a major role in exposing our visual and performing arts through engaging live bands and endorsing local events. What we would like to see is our hoteliers providing more opportunities for a greater number of our visitors to be exposed to our entertainment offerings,” Mr. Crawford said.

The State Minister, who was making his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 17), noted that “due to the great popularity of Jamaican music, visitors arrive here expecting to experience our entertainment in all its glory (but) unfortunately these expectations are not always realised."

Mr. Crawford therefore informed that he will be working assiduously, along with his team, to position Jamaica as the mecca of summer entertainment in the world by encouraging and promoting a multiplicity of festivals, events and other activities between the months June to September.

“We must ensure that visitors to our island, who want to experience true Jamaican entertainment, are satisfied. The reality is that if they expect it and don’t get it, then they’ll be disappointed,” he reasoned.

Meanwhile, he informed that in an effort to sustain and grow the tourism industry, and the entertainment sector, the government intends to provide more opportunities through public/private sector partnership, for entertainers to receive exposure.

By Athaliah Reynolds-Baker, JIS Reporter