Jamaica tourism exec stepping down after 5 years at helm

Jamaica’s director of tourism John Lynch said he is stepping down after five and a half years in the position.

Lynch told the Jamaica Gleaner he will leave office at the end of May, and will take a short break from the tourism industry.  

"I have been in the position a long time and every now and then, the JTB needs fresh thinking," he said.

He leaves after having overseen a number of achievements for Jamaican tourism including recording two million stopover visitor arrivals for the first time in 2013.

His 35-year career in travel began as general manager of J.A.M., a Jamaica tour company which progressively expanded to become one of the leading ground transportation companies.

He then joined the Jamaica Tourist Board as senior manager, trade services, and was then appointed as JTB Chicago-based regional manager.

He became deputy director of tourism, with responsibility for worldwide sales and marketing and was part of the creative team behind the award-winning ‘Come Back to Jamaica’ media campaign.

Looking back on a 14-year association with the JTB, Lynch told the Jamaica Gleaner: "I have enjoyed the job thoroughly, it has been the experience of a lifetime. We went through the world economic downturn and it was very challenging, but the country – both private and public sector within the industry – performed admirably well."