FROM THE
This edition of TPDConnect comes in the throes of Tourism Awareness Week, which we celebrate under the
Tourism Ministry’s theme “Sustainable Tourism- A tool for development.” Several positive things are happening.
Two new properties, Breathless and Jewels Grande, just officially opened, the Wedding Expo was this past
weekend and JAPEX one of the premier markets for buyers and sellers in tourism just ended, there is a growing
excitement with the upcoming UNWTO conference in Montego Bay and the Minister has reported an increase in
stop over and cruise ship arrivals. Tourism is doing well.
In the midst of all that, the region has seen storms as we have never seen before and there is devastation in several
of our Caribbean islands from category 5 Irma and Maria et al. We thank God we were spared and our prayers go
out to our affected brothers and sisters. These disasters force us to look at matters such as our disaster preparedness
and mitigation, our building practices, insurance and generally sustainable practices.
TPDCo has also been quite busy and the Community Awareness Department and all our contributors are happy
to share with you some highlights over the past two months. We share the credit for Devon House’s new Ice cream
shop and say kudos to our projects department. Deron Dixon, Corporate Services Director is in the spotlight and
our Community Tourism tool kit is now available thanks to Sandy Chung and the Product Development team.
Over 100 team members and their families participated in ICCD activities
in Ocho Rios, Kingston, Montego Bay and Falmouth through great support
from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). Management and staff
screened our anti-harassment video “Cum Yah” and we will hit the road in
the coming months to continue the sensitization beginning in
Trelawny. Look out for our in house talent in this one. Our
Tourism Summer Intern (TSIP) and HOPE summer
programmes ended and combined, we affected just under
2500 young Jamaicans. Do enjoy all of this and more in this month’s
TPDConnect and as the UNWTO’s theme for this special
week says Travel, Enjoy, Respect.
One Love,
Marline