JAMAICA: Canadian Travel Advisory Not New

In response to concerns raised about the latest travel advisory issued by the Canadian government on Jamaica, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has contended that the move was routine and is not expected to significantly impact visitor arrivals from Canada, as instances of violence against tourists are very low.

The Canadian government recently upgraded its travel advisory, encouraging its citizens not to venture into sections of the Corporate Area and western Jamaica because of its high levels of crime.

It warned that travellers that violent crime is a problem in large cities in Jamaica, particularly Kingston, Spanish Town and Montego Bay.

But Bartlett said: “This review is done regularly and Jamaica fell into the second category of ‘elevated risk’ along with most of the destinations in this region. It was not done in response to any single incident so we must be careful not to misinterpret the advisory or its purpose.”

He also cautioned Jamaicans not to send negative messages about the country’s tourism product as it may hinder the growth of the sector.

“Tourism is perhaps the only industry in Jamaica that has grown consistently for the past 35 years. However we must be careful in our pronouncements so as not to fuel fear and anxiety which can be deleterious to that growth which will damage our own future and our economy,” he said.

The Minister made the comments as he addressed the inaugural meeting of the expanded Tourism Linkages Council yesterday at the Ministry’s New Kingston offices where he formally introduced ten new members who were specially selected to bolster the 24-member body.

He emphasized that the Ministry of Tourism is collaborating with the Ministry of National Security to add an entirely new layer of security that will ensure strict enforcement of the rule of law and help to effectively tackle the scourge of tourist harassment.

Bartlett underscored that in addition to the courtesy corps now in place, 87 District Constables who are being trained under this new initiative will graduate on July 19, 2016. These officers will function under a special arm of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, have policing powers and will focus specifically on boosting safety and security in resort areas. Another 13 officers will be added soon, to bring the initial complement to 100 by the end of the year.

“Our track record is of exponential growth in the Canadian market and we are mindful of what we must do to build out a better experience for our visitors and remove the perception that exists in relation to safety and security. Therefore, we must have strong security with a soft look but a hard hand,” said the Tourism Minister.

The new members of the expanded Tourism Linkages Council include Chairman Adam Stewart, CEO of Sandals Resort International; Omar Robinson, President, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; Andrene Collings, Director, MSME Office at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries; Peter Thompson, CEO, Rural Agricultural Development Authority; Christine Cohen, Owner of Spa Retreat Boutique Hotel; David Butler, CEO, Digicel; Kamal Bankay, Entertainment Consultant; Mauricio Pulido, CEO GB Energy Jamaica; Ronald McKay, President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Jamaica; and Anup Chandiram, President of the Duty Free Association of Jamaica.

JAMAICA: Visitor Arrivals And Earnings On The Increase

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett today revealed that Jamaica’s tourism sector registered a more than six-per-cent growth in visitor arrivals for the first five months of the year.

He said “our latest figures indicate that for the period January to May 2016, total arrivals, both stopover and cruise, increased by 6.7 per cent with 1,779,066 visitors compared to the 1,667,081 visitors recorded for the same period last year.”

The minister also noted that the increase in arrivals has resulted in a rise in tourism earnings. “This growth in arrivals has resulted in an increase in tourism earnings of 4.9% as we recorded earnings of $US 1.1 billion, up from approximately $US 1 billion for the same period last year,” he added.

Bartlett was addressing the inaugural meeting of the members of the new Tourism Competitiveness Task Force on Thursday.

Bartlett said the body is crucial to the ministry’s drive to achieve its growth targets of securing 5 million visitors and generating US$ 5 billion in tourism earnings by 2021.

He urged them to build on the achievements of the tourism sector to further enhance the industry’s competitiveness and fuel growth in visitor arrivals and earnings.

In issuing his charge to the new task force, which is chaired by hotelier Josef Forstmayr, Bartlett encouraged them to take decisive steps to enhance the experience persons will have at our ports of entry.

“I want this task force to help to guide the Ministry in our efforts to deliver on the promise to visitors of an exceptional experience in Jamaica, which is destination assurance. Key to this process is dealing with the issue of travel facilitation, addressing visa and air connectivity issues, streamlining airport procedures and enhancing the skills of the people of the ground,” the minister said.

The other members of the task force include Jennifer Griffith, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Tourism; Godfrey Dyer, Chairman, Tourism Enhancement Fund; Paul Pennicook, Director of Tourism; Major General Stewart Saunders, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of National Security; Jennifer McDonald, CEO, Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency; Omar Robinson, President, Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association; Audley Deidrick, President, Airports Authority of Jamaica & NMIA; Dr Rafael Echevarne, CEO, MBJ Airport Ltd; Major Richard Reese, Commissioner of Customs; a representative from the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport.

JAMAICA: Bartlett Meets With Tourism Partners In US

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett travelled to the United States yesterday to attend several meetings with strategic tourism partners, including representatives of the Jamaica Tourist Board’s advertising agency in New York and New Jersey.

A news release from his ministry said this is the latest in a series of stakeholder meetings that the newly appointed minister has been engaged in since taking office last month.

So far, Minister Bartlett has reportedly met with key tourism groups including the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Red Cap Porters Association, leaders of the attractions and ground transportation subsectors, and employees of the ministry and its agencies across the island.

He has indicated that in his meetings with overseas tourism stakeholders, he will be placing special focus on driving new markets and forging new partnerships.

“We have to look at the existing markets that we have in the United States, Canada and Europe, and we have to drive those to higher levels. The outputs of these markets have to be significantly more, simply because they have the capacity to deliver more for us,” said Minister Bartlett.
Bartlett is accompanied by Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook and is expected to return to the island on Friday, April 8.

JAMAICA: Moon Palace Jamaica Grande To Open January 15

Plans are in place for the opening of the Moon Palace Jamaica Grande in Ocho Rios, St. Ann, which is being refurbished at a cost of US$150 million.

This was disclosed by the General Manager of the resort, Clifton Reader, during a tour of the property on November 28, by Tourism Minister, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill and Finance and Planning Minister, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips.

Mr. Reader, a former Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Hotelier of the Year, said refurbishing of the property (the former Sunset Jamaica Grande) is ahead of schedule and already bookings for January 15 are being taken.

“So, we have no choice but to make it. We have 2,000 employees…contractors, labourers working around the clock. I went to Cancun, Mexico for a month and when I came back, I just could not believe the pace at which the work is being done,” he said.

Dr. McNeill, commended the Management of Moon Palace for treating the staff well since they took over in September. The Management has sent 120 workers to Mexico for training in the Moon Palace culture.

The Minister said apart from the employment aspect, the Moon Palace should be commended for the establishment of a Foundation for the benefit of the workers and the wider public. “I think this shows real corporate partnership and corporate responsibility,” he added.

Commenting on the investment of US$150 million in the Moon Palace Resort, the Finance Minister said “this is going to be a totally new hotel experience.”

He also noted that when the work is completed, the Resort will employ 1,200 permanent employees.

JAMAICA: Tourism Minister Says Sector Continues To Be Engine of Growth

Minister of Tourism and Entertainment, Hon. Dr. Wykeham McNeill, says tourism continues to be the engine of growth for the economy, and that locals have a responsibility to ensure the sector remains competitive and visitor friendly.

Addressing the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) Tourism Trade Show at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on September 20, Dr. McNeill said the sector has not only been demonstrating a high level of profitability and dependability, but can now be safely called “the proverbial goose that keeps laying the golden egg.”

“The sector has the capacity to improve the quality of life of our people, which is the prime responsibility of our Government. We must ensure that the benefits of the sector have a positive impact, not only on those who live in the resort areas, but throughout every nook and cranny of Jamaica,” he said.

JAPEX, an annual event, is hosted by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB). It offers the ideal forum for leading suppliers of the country’s tourism product to meet with travel wholesalers and tour operators in a professionally-organised business exchange.

Noting that the country’s greatest asset is its people, Dr. McNeill said it is not by coincidence that many visitors to Jamaica not only keep coming back, but have also formed lifelong bonds and friendships with locals.

“Last winter we had the distinction of having the Sangster International Airport (in Montego Bay) bursting at the seams. As a result, we had to make special arrangements to ensure that the inflow of visitors had a positive airport experience,” the Minister noted.

Dr. McNeill said the demand for Jamaica was higher than ever and consequently “we suffered a shortfall in rooms.” He added that preparations are well advanced for what is expected to be another bumper winter tourist season, with the country expecting to be on par with last season’s record breaking numbers.

“We broke the two million stop-over arrivals barrier for the first time and we have seen increases in cruise arrivals from all our major ports,” he noted.

“Growth has returned to our main markets of the UK and USA, and we are opening up new markets every year. We already have flights from Nordic countries, such as Norway and Sweden and next year we will see the first direct flight from Dublin, Ireland to Montego Bay,” the Minister added.

JAMAICA: Cuba's Tourism Should Present Opportunities, Says Director of Tourism

Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook, says the opening up of Cuba as a tourist destination should provide opportunities for the sector in Jamaica.

Addressing a media breakfast as part of the 25th staging of the Jamaica Product Exchange (JAPEX) Tourism Trade Show, at the Hilton Resort in St James today, Pennicook said recent developments in Cuba should be seen as marketing opportunities for Jamaica.

“We will be able to work closely with Cuba and literally sell two wonderful products to the tourism industry worldwide. We happen to be two tourism destinations with a very strong cultural heritage. We have our own strengths in other areas and the fact is when we can market the destinations as one…it’s twice the fun,” Pennicook said.

He pointed out that with Cuba being the largest Spanish-speaking island in the Caribbean and Jamaica the largest English-speaking island in the region, both destinations have a lot to offer.

Dispelling the notion that Cuba poses a direct threat to the viability of Jamaica’s tourist industry, Pennicook said there has always been competition between the countries, but Jamaica plans to work harder to ensure that the source markets are protected.

“We intend to step up our marketing in those markets where we are already competing to ensure that we not only continue to get business, but increase our share from those markets,” he said.

As it relates to air links between Jamaica and Cuba, Pennicook said at present there is none, but discussions are taking place with a number of airlines, with a view to getting more flights between Cuba and Jamaica.

Meanwhile, president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Nicola Madden-Greig, said the Association has embraced the opportunities that Cuba brings now as a major player in the industry.

She pointed out that Jamaica plans to explore multi-destination marketing with Cuba, as obtains in other parts of the world.

“The Jamaica-Cuba combination is going to be a really great selling point. We see it as an absolute opportunity to market and put attention on the Western Caribbean in a way it has never been done before,” Madden-Greig said.