Healthy Jamaica tourism vision gets $750m plus

Minister of Tourism, Hon Edmund Bartlett (right) gives Chief Medical Officer, Dr Winston De La Haye his undivided attention.

On the one hand tourism linkages network keeps more foreign exchange in Jamaica – on the other linking health to tourism gets it a share of a $750million programme

Endorsing the latest $750million Tourism Enhancement Fund programme, Minister Edmund Bartlett pointed to the key importance of health security, not just to tourism but to the economy of the Caribbean as a whole. "Tourism is more than arrivals or earnings; it is a series of interconnected values in the very long and sometimes endless chain, and health is such a key part of that chain of connection from which we secure the integrity and reputation of our destination,"

Supported by the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association (CHTA), the programme recognizes that, given the region’s dependence on tourism, the health of Jamaica’s and other Caribbean economies is closely related to the health and sustainability of the industry.

Another part of this vision is Jamaica’s linkages hub, created in 2013 to strengthen the relationship between tourism and other sectors of the economy, and position the industry to generate higher growth rates in visitor arrivals and earnings.

The objective is to widen the net of people benefiting from tourism and create a sector that is more inclusive and offers increased opportunities for economic growth and development.

Edmund Bartlett Minister of Tourism said there have been significant successes in strengthening the linkages between tourism and other sectors, such as manufacturing, agriculture and the creative industries.

"We are building on these successes and expanding the linkages through our five networks – sports and entertainment, shopping, knowledge and wellness as well as gastronomy. We think these are exciting dimensions to our tourism," he noted.

He pointed to the need for increased investment in the development of locally manufactured and produced goods.

"The opportunities now exist for us to become a wealthy country by producing the goods and services that these visitors need," Minister Bartlett said, noting that this will create more sustainable tourism products and add to the authentic visitor experience.

Endorsing the Tourism Enhancement Health programme, the minister said health was being seen for its impact both as a product and an economic activity as well as an integral part of the health and wellness of the nation. The CARPHA Health and Tourism Programme therefore enhanced Jamaica’s advantage as the leading tourist resort in the Caribbean. He said he was therefore "very pleased that we in Jamaica have taken the proactive position" of implementing the programme.

Minister Bartlett also emphasised that health was central to the tourism ministry’s destination assurance initiative as "nobody visits an unhealthy community."

Minister Bartlett also endorsed a suggestion by Chief Medical Officer, Dr Winston De La Haye to explore the inclusion of a presentation on tourism and health issues on the agenda for the UNWTO, Government of Jamaica and World Bank Group Conference on Jobs & Inclusive Growth: Partnerships for Sustainable Tourism’, scheduled to be held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre, St James,  from November 27 to 29 this year.

Valere Tjolle

@ValereTjolle