 “We are too small and too poor a country†Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association president Wayne Cummings said in reference to the continued practice of government dividing the Jamaica’s Tourism product across various state agencies.
Addressing hoteliers and other stakeholders within the hospitality industry at the JHTA’s 49th annual general meeting at the Half Moon Conference Centre, Cumming discussed the dismal figures of cruise ship arrivals which was partly due to the Port Authority of Jamaica’s ability to package and market this aspect of tourism.
“I said it before and I will say it again, we are too small and too poor a country to be splitting the Tourism Product across ministries and agencies. With the best will in the world the Port Authority does  not have the machinery to leverage the tourism marketing spend to convert it sufficiently for it to make senseâ€, the JHTA president echoed.
He has therefore summoned the government to place cruise tourism back into the Ministry of Tourism and for it to be marketed by the Jamaica Tourist Board. As there has been no policy statement from the Ministry of Transport and Works that “convinces us that Jamaica is anytime soon going to speak directly to cruise vacationers, convincing them that we love them as much as stop over guestsâ€.
On the other hand, Montego Bay and Jamaica at large’s continued surge in criminal activities and improprieties did not escape the wrath of the JHTA president.
"While Jamaica has had major challenges with crime and violence through its independent
history, the last 30 years have provided the most prolific example of what not to do
when the State unofficially provides support for criminal enterprise for political gains"
history, the last 30 years have provided the most prolific example of what not to do
when the State unofficially provides support for criminal enterprise for political gains"
As the tourism capital of Jamaica and the second city, Montego Bay has recorded over 100 murders since the start of the year. The city is also the epicenter of the notorious lottery scam.
"Sadly we are nor faced with independently powerful camps that are exacting dominance and
jungle justice as show of force to protect their ill-gotten gains" Cummings continued,
the JHTA reiterates that the continued growth of the sector and other legal productive ventures
are at real risk".
jungle justice as show of force to protect their ill-gotten gains" Cummings continued,
the JHTA reiterates that the continued growth of the sector and other legal productive ventures
are at real risk".
