One Year In Government - Prime Minister Andrew Holness

31 / 44

• • gleanerjamaica • jamaicagleaner • FEATURE THE GLEANER, THURSDAY, MARCH 2, 2017 G9
THE YEAR 2016 proved to be a prosperous
one for the Ministry of Tourism, as it suc-
cessfully continued its mission of position-
ing Jamaica as a world-class tourist destination.
A strong foundation was laid for 2017 and
beyond as the January-to-December figures indi-
cate that the sector delivered a high level of per-
formance, with the country welcoming a record
3.8 million visitors, both stopover and cruise.
This represents an increase of 3.9 per cent over
2015, when 3.6 million visitors came to the island.
In terms of stopover arrivals, some 2.18 million
persons visited, representing a 2.7 per cent
increase over the 2015 figure.
The island also recorded some 1.65 million
cruise passengers from January to December
2016, representing a 5.5 per cent increase over the
corresponding period in 2015.
In addition, Jamaica registered record stopover
arrivals during the Christmas season, as 60,886
stopover visitors came to the island between
December 22 and 28, representing an 11.1 per
cent increase over the 2015 period. Preliminary
figures indicate that gross foreign exchange earn-
ings for 2016 amounted to US$2.553 billion, 6.3
per cent more than the corresponding period in
2015 when Jamaica earned approximately US$2.4
billion.
Cruise passenger arrivals were significantly
boosted on December 6 as Jamaica welcomed six
cruise ships, which docked in Kingston, Ocho
Rios, Falmouth and Montego Bay, bringing over
10,000 passengers.
On November 22, Jamaica welcomed the inau-
gural call of Harmony of the Seas – the world’s
largest cruise ship – to the Port of Falmouth in
Trelawny.
The country also welcomed the Carnival Vista ,
which made its inaugural call in April, docking in
Ocho Rios.
Hailing the move, Chairman of the National
Cruise Council (NCC) Michael Belnavis said the
cruise lines are very selective about where they
send their luxury vessels, and the fact that Jamaica
now plays host to the crème de la crème is “more
than a feather in our cap”.
“This should not at all be viewed lightly or
taken for granted,” he said. Harmony of the Seas
is the biggest in the Royal Caribbean Oasis-class
luxury fleet and the Carnival Vista is Carnival’s
newest pride and joy. Having both of them now
calling on Jamaica is a ringing endorsement of our
tourism offerings,” he said.
Tourist visitor of Pullmantur cruise ship ‘Monarch of the Seas’ at the Port Authority of Jamaica Kingston Wharves, Newport West, on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.
The Wyndham Hotel on Knutsford
Boulevard in New Kingston.
Cruise arrivals
outpace stopovers
in record year
US$1b contract signed for St Ann hotel
Ja’s largest single resort development slated for Llandovery
LAST YEAR also witnessed the
rebranding, expansion and
upgrading of several properties.
Nearly 2,400 new hotel rooms
were added to the country’s
stock. An additional 1,035 rooms
now under construction are slat-
ed to come on stream in 2017.
In addition, 32 high-end
rooms and eight two-bedroom
apartments are being built at
The Renfrew in Kingston, while
redevelopment work is under
way at the former Wyndham
New Kingston Hotel, which was
acquired by the Courtleigh
Hotel Group.
A major contract was signed
for the largest single develop-
ment of hotels in Jamaica’s his-
tory, being undertaken by
Karisma Hotels and Resorts.
The US$1 billion mega-hotel
project in Llandovery, St Ann, is
expected to add some 5,000 new
rooms, provide at least 8,000
direct jobs as well as 10,000
indirect jobs in the coming years.
In December, the ministry offi-
cially launched five new networks
under its overarching Tourism
Linkages Network initiative, to
better position the sector to gener-
ate higher growth rates, in both
visitor arrivals and earnings.
These networks will focus on
strengthening the linkage with
the manufacturing and agricul-
tural sectors as well as the cre-
ative industries. The networks
will also focus on gastronomy,
sports and entertainment, health
and wellness, shopping, and the
knowledge economy.
“If we intend to attract five
million visitors by 2021,
generate $5 billion in tourism
earnings, increase the total
direct jobs to 125,000 and add
15,000 new hotel rooms, then
we must put in place the
framework to foster the growth
of this sector,” Minister of
Tourism Ed Bartlett said.
“So, the networks will aid in
transforming the sector, deepen
linkages and achieve significant
growth,” he added.
Lasting links made at speed networking event
IN MARCH, the Ministry of Tourism
hosted the third Tourism Linkages
Speed Networking Event, which afforded
producers of Jamaican goods and
services direct contact with operators in
the tourism sector. Last year, providers
of entertainment and construction goods
and services had the opportunity to
meet with tourism decision-makers.
Celebrated fashion designer Earl
‘Biggy’ Turner, well known in the
entertainment industry for his popular
Biggy Fashions, attended the event and
was quite satisfied.
“I’ve met a lot of the hotel represen-
tatives and I received good, positive
response; it’s for me now to go back
and package what it is I’m expecting to
sell them, which is fashion to comple-
ment the music,” he highlighted.
Simone Harris, executive director of
360 Artistes, an arts management
agency, was very pleased with the
reception she received at the speed
networking event.
She said: “I think this is an
absolutely great opportunity for the
creative industries, for the price. I
mean, if I were to try to meet with all
these buyers here I couldn’t afford it,
not in time and in money; this is a
great opportunity to sit face to face
with the people who make the deci-
sions about entertainment in their
properties.”
CONTRIBUTED
Fabio Villegas (second right), president of Decameron All Inclusive Hotels & Resorts,
gives the thumbs up after he, along with Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett (left), and
Prime Minister Andrew Holness (second left) cut the ribbon signalling the official opening
of Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach Resort in Montego Bay on Saturday, February 18.
Sharing in the moment is Dr Horace Chang (right), minister without portfolio in the
Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, while in background is Mayor of Montego
Bay Councillor Homer Davis.
BARTLETT