Jamaicans Urged To Grasp Investment Opportunities In Tourism Sector

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Tourism Minister, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, has called on Jamaicans to grasp the various investment opportunities which are available in the island’s tourism sector.

At the recent, official opening of the Melia Braco Village resort, in the northern parish of Trelawny, McNeill said, the investment climate for local investors is right, and Jamaicans should come forward with their projects and ideas.

“I want to see Jamaicans and Jamaican companies getting involved in investing in tourism. I want to see Jamaicans taking advantage of the opportunities that exist in tourism, to make money and to make a profit,” he said.

McNeill added, that the National Insurance Fund (NIF) should be commended for its investment in Melia Braco Village, which ensured that the property remained in the hands of the pension fund and, by doing so, kept the property in the hands of Jamaicans.

The Tourism Minister was also upbeat over recent developments in the tourism sector, especially the opening, or reopening, of a number of properties in recent weeks.

“In the last 6 weeks, this is the third property that we are opening in Jamaica that is under total rehabilitation or is new. I think it’s a tremendous achievement for Jamaica,” he enthused.

He pointed out, that the project was delivered on time and within the US$23.5 million budget.

Looking at the sector, since the start of the 2015/16 Winter Tourist Season in the middle of December last year, the Minister said, arrivals have been up, especially at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay.

He cited the record 17,500 passengers, who arrived, or departed, the Sangster International Airport on December 22 last year, 6,000 of whom were cruise ship transfers.