Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) seeded loans are being
administered by JN Small Business Loans and the National Export
Import (EXIM) Bank. In addition to providing access to capital,
these facilities will help to curtail the high level of leakage of the
tourism dollar, a significant portion of which goes back overseas.
In addition, we are using tourism as an effective tool for
boosting economic growth and transforming communities.
Through Community-Based Tourism (CBT) initiatives that
encourage and invest in community-based projects, we are
able to spread the benefits of tourism even to the poorest
communities across the length and breadth of Jamaica.
All of these mentioned initiatives will come together
to create the framework that will help us to better
use tourism as a viable tool for national development.
I am pleased to inform you that Jamaica has been selected
to host UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and the World
Bank Group Global Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth:
Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism. It will be held at the
Montego Bay Convention Centre, St. James, from November
27 to 29. The conference will bring to Montego Bay 157
ministers from countries that have tourism as a critical
economic activity, some 500 companies involved in tourism
services and activities across the globe, and more than 1000
delegates.
It is an historic occasion as it signals the first time
that the UNWTO and its affiliate members will stage
a world conference on tourism in the Americas.
The global conference will provide an opportunity to increase
awareness of the role tourism can play in achieving social
and economic growth. A major outcome of the conference
will be the ‘Declaration of Montego Bay’ – an action plan for
creating a more sustainable tourism sector. One that generates
income and employment, stimulates trade and linkages, and
respects and protects our natural and cultural environment.
We know that done the right way, tourism has tremendous
capacity to create decent jobs, provide opportunities for
inclusion and education, and contribute to preserving
cultural heritage and the environment. Let us all work
together to create a sustainable tourism sector that benefits
needs of our visitors, the industry, the environment
and our communities.
Thank you and God bless you all.
Hon Edmund Bartlett, CD. MP
Minister of Tourism
Prime Minister of Jamaica, Most Honourable Andrew
Holness g reets Executive Director, TPDCO, Dr. Andrew
Spencer at opening of Jewels Grande Resort and Spa,
in Montego Bay
Chairman of TEF, (centre, front row)Mr. Godfrey Dyer is joined
by (from left,front row) Nadine Spence - Member of Jamaica
Hotel and Tourist Association JHTA Montego Bay Chapter
Kenya Keddo-Laing - Resort / Destination Assurance
Manager, TPDCo, Janice Allen-Regional Director,
Jamaica Tourist Board, Marline Stephenson Dalley
Community Awareness Coordinator,
TPDCo, Charles
Scarlett-Director,
Visitor
Safety
and
Experience,
TPDCo (from left, back row) Sheldon Headley - Anti-Harrass-
ment Manager, TPDCo, David Dobson - Senior Director,
Technical Services, Ministry
of Tourism and Omar
Robinson-President, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association
(JHTA) at the church service to mark the launch of Tourism
Awareness Week 2017. The service was held at St. John’s
Methodist
Church
in
Montego
Bay
on
Sunday
September
24,
2017.