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Minister tells new JTB board to go for double-digit growth
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett (right) in discussion with chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch, at a press conference yesterday to introduce new members of the tourist board. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
THE newly appointed board of the Jamaica Tourist Board held its first meeting yesterday, with marketing of the destination as well as identifying new airlift for Jamaica high on the agenda.
Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, who officially introduced the board members at the JTB's office in New Kingston, requested that they focus on double-digit growth for the industry.
Basil Smith, board member and director of tourism, told the Observer that the first meeting, while short, was very productive.
"We have to respond to the challenge that the minister put forward as we will be focusing our efforts on the marketing thrusts," Smith said shortly after the meeting.
Earlier, Bartlett told the board to grow the industry like it has never grown before.
"This board will have their hands full, but our mandate is double-digit growth and I am going to depend on you to drive that growth," Bartlett said.
He said it was only when the sector moved into double-digit growth that the critical mass required to drive the industry to become the centrepiece of the economy would be created.
The minister said he was, however, confident that the new board would hit the ground running as each member was an accomplished practitioner in the field.
Bartlett also defended his selection of John Lynch as chairman, as well as the rest of board members, saying a lot of time was spent consulting with the sector, so the best mix could emerge.
"I have thought long and hard before asking each member on this board to offer their service," the minister said. "Today I say to the sector, this is the best mix."
Lynch, Bartlett said, was a renowned 'internationally acclaimed marketing powerhouse', which he said would help greatly in the three pillars on which his tenure will be predicated - marketing, investment and development.
"Therefore, I need a strong marketing team to drive that objective and John Lynch is a marketer," Bartlett said.
Lynch said that while there were challenges, they were not insurmountable.
"We promise you (minister) that we won't let you down... I have a board where I couldn't be more happier because it is such a mix of expertise and doers that it is just amazing, and I am going to be very happy to lead them," Lynch said.
Lynch will be supported by deputy chairman Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National Building Society; Basil Smith; Godfrey Dyer, tourism consultant and former president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA); Carolyn Hayle, head of hospitality and tourism at the University of the West Indies; Paul Pennicook, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Air Jamaica; Wayne Cummings, president of JHTA; Josef Forstmayr, hotelier; Lionel Reid, hotelier; Zein Issa-Nakash, hotelier; Ralph Smith; hotelier; and Bert Wright businessman.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett (right) in discussion with chairman of the Jamaica Tourist Board, John Lynch, at a press conference yesterday to introduce new members of the tourist board. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
THE newly appointed board of the Jamaica Tourist Board held its first meeting yesterday, with marketing of the destination as well as identifying new airlift for Jamaica high on the agenda.
Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett, who officially introduced the board members at the JTB's office in New Kingston, requested that they focus on double-digit growth for the industry.
Basil Smith, board member and director of tourism, told the Observer that the first meeting, while short, was very productive.
"We have to respond to the challenge that the minister put forward as we will be focusing our efforts on the marketing thrusts," Smith said shortly after the meeting.
Earlier, Bartlett told the board to grow the industry like it has never grown before.
"This board will have their hands full, but our mandate is double-digit growth and I am going to depend on you to drive that growth," Bartlett said.
He said it was only when the sector moved into double-digit growth that the critical mass required to drive the industry to become the centrepiece of the economy would be created.
The minister said he was, however, confident that the new board would hit the ground running as each member was an accomplished practitioner in the field.
Bartlett also defended his selection of John Lynch as chairman, as well as the rest of board members, saying a lot of time was spent consulting with the sector, so the best mix could emerge.
"I have thought long and hard before asking each member on this board to offer their service," the minister said. "Today I say to the sector, this is the best mix."
Lynch, Bartlett said, was a renowned 'internationally acclaimed marketing powerhouse', which he said would help greatly in the three pillars on which his tenure will be predicated - marketing, investment and development.
"Therefore, I need a strong marketing team to drive that objective and John Lynch is a marketer," Bartlett said.
Lynch said that while there were challenges, they were not insurmountable.
"We promise you (minister) that we won't let you down... I have a board where I couldn't be more happier because it is such a mix of expertise and doers that it is just amazing, and I am going to be very happy to lead them," Lynch said.
Lynch will be supported by deputy chairman Earl Jarrett, general manager of Jamaica National Building Society; Basil Smith; Godfrey Dyer, tourism consultant and former president of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA); Carolyn Hayle, head of hospitality and tourism at the University of the West Indies; Paul Pennicook, senior vice-president of sales and marketing at Air Jamaica; Wayne Cummings, president of JHTA; Josef Forstmayr, hotelier; Lionel Reid, hotelier; Zein Issa-Nakash, hotelier; Ralph Smith; hotelier; and Bert Wright businessman.
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