Tourism working group established to address stakeholder concerns

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett has set up a seven-member working group, to be chaired by the Chairman of the Tourism Linkages Council Adam Stewart to review concerns raised by stakeholders in the tourism sector and provide recommendations.

The working group will comprise representatives from the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association, the Jamaica Association of Villas and Attractions and leading hotel chains.

“This working group has been charged to work on the various issues discussed including entertainment, training and certification, issuing of work permits, craft vendors, ground transportation, and information for the Tourism Demand Study. The working group will also present a proposal on the way forward within a month,” Bartlett said in a statement.

The establishment of the working group arose out of a meeting yesterday by Bartlett with stakeholders.

The meeting came in response to allegations of discriminatory hiring practices, especially as it regards entertainment, in the tourism sector.

“The meeting was used as a platform to establish a more structured communication process among tourism stakeholders. This is important to ensure that issues that arise from time to time can be properly clarified and not become misleading to the public,” said Bartlett.

He said the Tourism Ministry remains committed to the development of all tourism workers in Jamaica. 

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