FROM THE
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
R
ecently, I had the pleasure of attending a World Tourism Day forum in
Washington DC under the theme “Over- Tourism: Seeking Solutions.” The
Jamaican perspective was presented and I was proud to share TPDCo’s
role and vision with the rest of the world.
Overtourism as you all know, describes destinations where locals and/or visitors
feel that there are too many visitors and that the quality of life in the area or the
quality of the experience has deteriorated unacceptably. It is the opposite of
responsible tourism which is really about using tourism to make better places to live
and visit.
This, team members, is part of our mandate. To ensure that we focus our efforts
on development of a tourism product that is committed to the principles of
Responsible Tourism.
As we strive to do our part to ensure the ministry’s Five by Five by Five
( Five Thousand visitors, earnings of $5M Five Million dollars, over a five year period
which is 2021 in real time), we must continue to train, monitor, develop, stimulate,
facilitate and lead the charge. As one of two companies in the Caribbean region with
the mandate of diversifying and enhancing the visitors’ experience while improving the
quality of lives of or citizens, we must meet this challenge head on.
This is a responsibility which cannot be taken lightly. Our Spruce Up Jamaica programme
is just one initiative that we have taken in that regard. Our embracing community
Tourism as a vehicle through which we can make things happen, initiatives of the
Ministry of Tourism such as its linkages networks, (sports & entertainment, health &
wellness, gastronomy, shopping and knowledge), training and certification,
HIV sensitization, environmental and coastal protection and the pursuance of a model
where our people have a full stake, are a few examples of the work that we continue to
do to protect the integrity of the product.
I urge us to continue to give of our best to ensure the safety, security and seamlessness of
our destination as we diversify and develop our human capital and infrastructure,
as well as our social and environmental sustainability.
Dr. Andrew Spencer
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR