“You Can Count on Spain” – Ambassador Pledges

Spain’s Ambassador, His Excellency José María Fernández López de Turiso, has expressed his Government’s commitment to strengthening its relationship with Jamaica in areas of mutual interest.

He said the countries enjoy an enduring partnership, which spans cultural, educational, economic and commercial realms.

With accumulated investment of more than US$2.5 billion, Spain is one of Jamaica’s largest investors, with projects primarily focused on the tourism sector, creating a significant number of jobs in construction and tourism services.

The Ambassador said there are “strong projections for future expansion” and hailed Jamaica as a “model of fiscal stability and prudence”.

“You can count on Spain, its companies, and its people as partners in this shared effort,” he assured.

Ambassador López de Turiso was addressing the breaking of ground for the 950-room expansion of the Grand Palladium Hotel in Point, Hanover, on February 18.

He said the new investment by the Palladium Group marks a significant milestone in Jamaica’s tourism and underscores the strong ties between the countries.

He noted that Spain and Jamaica enjoy a relationship that is built on respect and mutual trust.

“I am absolutely convinced that this will be a very successful project… one that will be key in Jamaica’s tourism development, of which we can all be proud,” he said.

Ambassador López de Turiso said the Palladium Group is a key player in tourism in Jamaica, with projects focused on sustainable tourism practices that benefit local communities.

The Ambassador noted the importance of maintaining an active and constructive Spain-Jamaica partnership.

He pointed to recent engagements, such as the participation of Tourism Minister, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, in the FITUR tourism tradeshow in Madrid and the Director General of Turespaña [Tourism Institute of Spain], Miguel Sanz Castedo, in the just-concluded Global Tourism Resilience Conference in Hanover.

The Spanish Ambassador emphasised the importance of sharing best practices in tourism management to support Jamaica’s growth in the sector.

“Together, we must cultivate common objectives and make common cause in international forums such as the United Nations Tourism,” he said.

“It is against this background that I must express my sincere appreciation to the Palladium Group for their commitment to Jamaica and the confidence they share in the island’s future. I also want to thank the Government of Jamaica for its hard work and dedication. Thank you for giving us a reason to be genuinely proud,” he expressed.