Mobay Tourist Operators Benefit from TPDCo Licensing Expo

Several new and existing operators in the tourism sector benefited from support to submit and renew applications for licences as the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) kicked off its ‘2024 Licensing Expo’ on Tuesday (June 11) in Montego Bay.

Held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, the event provided a one-stop shop where business owners and operators got the opportunity to meet with representatives of key regulatory agencies and receive support to navigate the licensing process.

It was the first of a six-part series being hosted by the TPDCo’s Licensing Processing Unit in resort areas across the country, to provide enhanced support to the industry by offering personalised consultations and addressing specific licensing needs, queries, and benefits.

Participating entities include the Ministry of Tourism, JN Bank, Marathon Insurance Brokers, First Global Bank, Companies Office of Jamaica (COJ), Maritime Authority of Jamaica, the public health departments, Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), the municipal corporations and others.

Executive Director of the TPDCo, Wade Mars, said the event is targeted at new and established businesses.

“We have made an effort to create a one-stop shop with all the resources and services you require if you are a new and aspiring business to start strong. If you are already a part of the tourism family, we will help you to continue to build on what you already have”, he noted.

“We have designed this event to be as interactive and beneficial as possible… throughout this Expo you will have the opportunity to engage with experts from various sectors,” he noted further.

Licence Processing and Registration Manager, Sheryll Lewis, said TPDCo wants to ensure that all business operators are compliant with the licensing requirement.

“We are a facilitator agency and what we have been doing over the years is to arrange consultations for particular agencies. We would arrange for the different agencies to go on site to visit an entity or even an office space… even it’s just a concept,” she said.

She noted that the decision to stage the annual licensing expo is to provide an opportunity “where anybody can come to a particular resort area with all the agencies there.”

“The expiry date for licences like contract carriage operators, domestic tour operators… expired March 31 and we wanted to encourage them to come on board and get your renewal. Just come with your application form,” she encouraged.

Owner and Operator of Peterkin Hospitality Group Limited, Horace Peterkin, urged operators in the sector to get licensed.

“You need to have proper licensing. You can’t just decide to open an attraction; you’re not going to get support from the tourist board or TPDCo unless you go through the process of putting all the things in place,” he pointed out.

He added “you can find out everything that you need so you don’t have to go back and forth to the different agencies. All the agencies that are necessary to make the business operate are here.”