St. Elizabeth Students Exposed to Careers in Tourism

Scores of students in St. Elizabeth, who are preparing for higher education or the world of work, were exposed to an array of career paths at the Tourism Product Development Company Limited (TPDCo) Youth Expo and Career Fair.

The event, held at the Breds Treasure Beach Sports Park on Thursday (April 11), attracted students from secondary and tertiary institutions, who were introduced to conventional and unconventional jobs in tourism and affiliated sectors and got the opportunity to interact with various professionals.

Among the schools represented were May Day, B.B. Coke, Maggotty, Lacovia, Newell, and Nain high schools and Bethlehem Moravian College.

Several students who spoke to JIS News said that the day’s activities, under the theme ‘Tourism Careers Beyond the Beaten Track’, opened their eyes to the myriad possibilities within the sector.

Among them is Ashantie Graham of Newell High School, who is now firmly set on becoming a cruise-ship captain after learning about jobs in the cruise and maritime industries.

“I want to cruise across the seas,” the grade-12 student said excitedly.

May Day High School student, Hope Codling, highlighted the expo’s importance for students contemplating their future.

She said it gave them the opportunity to think about university, college or a job straight after high school.

Her schoolmate, Teandra Morgan, said she discovered a passion for “catering to people and cruise services” after visiting the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) booth.

“So, I think it was very important for the students to come here and try to learn something like I did,” she told JIS News.

Chad Gayle of Nain High School expressed appreciation for the knowledge gained.

He told JIS News that the career fair and expo was a good experience, noting that not only did he learn about tourism but also other career paths and what it means to go out into the working world.

The TPDCo Youth Expo and Career Fair served as a platform for networking, mentorship, and collaboration among students.

The event aimed to empower young Jamaicans to explore unconventional pathways within the tourism sector by embracing innovation and creativity, taking the opportunity to discover new horizons and carve out unique career trajectories through face-to-face consultations and demonstrations.

Executive Director of TPDCo, Wade Mars, in his address, underscored the role of young people in driving innovation in the tourism sector.

He indicated that the youth bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas, often believing in possibilities that the older generation may dismiss.

As such, he said, the Ministry of Tourism is actively fostering and amplifying youth innovation for the betterment of society.

“So, let us embrace innovation, creativity, and strategic differentiation as we navigate [tourism careers],” Mr. Mars said.