TPDConnect TPDCONNECT SEPTEMBER 2017 | Page 8

LAUNCH OF THE COMMUNITY TOURISM TOOLKIT On Thursday July 27 2017 the Community Tour- ism Handbook was handed over to the Minister of Tourism, Honourable Edmund Bartlett at the JSIF/REDI symposium. The event which was held at the Mona Visitors Lodge at the University of the West Indies closed out the Rural Economic Development Initiative programme (REDI), an ini- tiative that was created to improve market access for micro and small scale rural agricultural produc- ers and tourism product and service providers. Tourism Minister Honourable Edmund Bartlett who was speaking at the symposium said that the Community Tourism Enterprises (CTEs) which received assistance under REDI realized an improvement in their ability to meet local and international standards. They have en- hanced their business operations, infrastruc- ture and organizational capacity and thereby improved their access to the tourism markets. The Community Tourism toolkit will include two complete guides related to community tourism: The Community Tourism Handbook and the guide to obtaining a Jamaica Tourist Board Licence. Together, these are comprehensive guides re- garding what it takes to run a successful and sustainable Community Tourism Business from concept to JTB licensing and ongoing marketing and management. Community Tourism goes beyond the sun, sea and sand and aims to create an authentic experience for the unique traveller who wish- es to indulge in the rich Jamaican culture. Kudos to the team at TPDCo for their contribu- tion! Jamaica Social Investment Fund Director Omar Frith pres- ents the ‘Handbook for Community Tourism Enterprises’ to Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett at the Official Launch of the National Community Tourism Toolkit. The Toolkit and its accompanying ‘Guide to Obtaining a Jamaica Tourist Board Licence’ are together a comprehensive guide regarding what it takes to run a successful and sustainable Community Tourism Business from concept to JTB licensing and ongoing marketing and management.