Homeowners Ready for Cricket World Cup

Some 215 homeowners have received certificates of participation for completing the Bed and Breakfast Home Stay (BBHS) training programme, which was facilitated by the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), as part of programmes implemented for the ICC Cricket World Cup.
The awards ceremony was held at the Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston on February 27.
The 20-hour training programme included lessons in: Food Handler’s Procedures, Fire Prevention and Precautions, Customer Service and Security Alertness.By completing the course, persons are now registered to be hosts for the BBHS programme, which refers to sleeping accommodation for at least one night with breakfast in a private home and with no more than four available bedrooms for compensation.
The primary purpose of the programme is to provide additional rooms, other than the regular hotel, for the tourism sector to accommodate the visitors for the ICC Cricket World Cup, which Jamaica will host in another few days.
Additionally, the programme will offer opportunities for both visitors and Jamaicans, as the guests will become exposed to the island’s culture, traditions and history, while the hosts of the programme will be able to develop their own business and generate income by sharing their homes.
Some 225 ‘Bed and Breakfast’ facilities are currently registered and have been uploaded on the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Cricket World Cup websites, to inform interested visitors of the areas that would be available under the BBHS programme.
In her address at the awards function, Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Assamba noted that, “this new dimension to the accommodation sub-sector will render Jamaica even more attractive by adding a new layer of affordability”, adding that the programme also enhances Jamaica’s reputation “as one of the most diverse destinations on the face of the earth”.
“The programme captures the essence of who we really are as Jamaicans.a warm, hospitable people, who are always willing to open our hearts and homes, not only to friends and family, but to total strangers, who we often charm into becoming members of our extended family,” the Minister added.
Mrs. Assamba pointed out that although the programme was launched for Cricket World Cup, it would remain a part of Jamaica’s accommodation offering and would “be sustained for all times to meet the economic needs of all Jamaicans who want to participate in Tourism in this way”.
Meanwhile, 57 hackney carriage operators were also awarded at the ceremony on completion of training in tourism awareness and customer service.
For further information on the BBHS programme, persons may contact TPDCo at (876) 968-3441/3626 or e-mail B&BHomeStay@tpdco.org or visit the website at www.tpdco.org.