Tourists Responding Well To New Artisan Village

Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, is reporting that tourists are responding positively to the new artisan village at the Hampden Wharf in Falmouth, Trelawny.

Delivering a statement in the House of Representatives on November 16, Mr. Bartlett said the return of cruise ships to Falmouth gave the Ministry an opportunity to do a soft launch of the village with 10 artisans, adding that it will serve as a viable attraction for the sector going forward.

“It makes a great statement for the nation and presents a conversation piece for the visitor when [they] get back home. We want to build some more. We are going to build one in Ocho Rios, one in Montego Bay and one in Negril,” he pointed out.

The $700-million Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF)-financed village is themed to tell the story of Falmouth and offer Jamaicans and visitors an opportunity to share local food, drinks, art, craft and culture.

It forms part of the wider Hampden Wharf Development project and will be the first of a series of Artisan Villages that will be in resort areas across the island.