Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (right) views a canvas by artist Delroy Millwood (left) on the occasion of the opening of the two-day “Christmas in July” trade show at the National Arena on July 11. (Photo: JIS)
KINGSTON, Jamaica — From July 4 to 10, Jamaica welcomed 55,000 tourists to the island, signalling the recovery of the tourism industry following Hurricane Beryl.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett made the revelation in his speech at the opening of the Christmas in July Trade Exhibition on July 11.
The fair, now in its 10th year, will be held at the National Arena from July 11 to 12. A total of 205 artisans will be participating in this year’s exhibition.
Bartlett said there were no visitors to the island on July 2 and 3. He said the island began accepting visitors again on July 4. The numbers have grown over the six-day period.
“That’s what resilience is about, saying they can come because 80 percent of our resources are intact. And they’re coming because they trust our promise and that promise is sincere,” he said.
The Minister noted that the sustainability plan for the industry is based on several key strategies such as training and development, skills upgrading, expanding the scope of production of authentic Jamaican products and services, expanding credit and debt arrangements, and marketing and networking of entrepreneurs operating in the sector.
Bartlett added that it is not just the country’s natural resources that have attracted record numbers of tourists to the island over the years, but that the artisan community has become a valuable part of the island’s tourism industry.
He stressed that SMEs in the tourism ecosystem are a key driver for the future of the industry and commended the efforts of the event organisers, Tourism Linkage Network.
“I want to thank everyone who has worked with us over the last 10 years to make Christmas in July the exciting and huge occasion it is today for small business,” he said.
Christmas in July is a collaborative project of the Tourism Partnership Network, a division of the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), and its partners, the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), the Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA), Jamaica Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) and the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA).
— JIS
