Jamaica gearing up for big spenders with new policy

[Assasin]

Jamaica gearing up for big spenders with new policy

Published: Thursday | November 5, 2009


Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer

Bartlett
WESTERN BUREAU:
MINISTER OF Tourism Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica could attract more 'high rollers' or heavy spenders with Cabinet's recent approval of an [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]inventory[/COLOR][/COLOR]-enrichment strategy to allow merchants to import more high-end products into the island.
These high-end products, Bartlett said, are, in most cases, easily accessible in other Caribbean islands. "Our job as government is to enable shopping to happen by providing the basis for all quality type of goods to be merchandised here in Jamaica," he said while addressing yesterday's launch of the Spruce Up Jamaica National Tourism Debate at the Sunset [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]Beach [COLOR=orange !important]Resort[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR]

and Spa in Montego Bay, St James.
"In perusing that, Cabinet in fact has just approved what we are calling an inventory-enrichment strategy, which will allow for our in-bond merchants, for example, to be able to bring in and have inventory goods at a higher price level with an arrangement that will allow them to pay a six per cent tax across the board relating to the sale of those high-ends."
New angle on shopping
According to Bartlett, the move will establish Jamaica as a destination where tourists can [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]shop[/COLOR][/COLOR] for high-end products instead of going to countries like the Cayman Islands, The [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]Bahamas[/COLOR][/COLOR] and the United States Virgin Islands.
"All those big [COLOR=orange !important][COLOR=orange !important]brand [COLOR=orange !important]names[/COLOR][/COLOR][/COLOR] that wealthy people want to buy when they go to other destinations, we can have it in Jamaica now. The Government's new policy is going to drive those higher-end goods and we are going to see coming to us more and more of what you call the 'high rollers' - those who spend big money."
Casino law a catalyst
The tourism minister added that the casino legislation was also an attraction for the high-end spenders. He said there was a need for the nation to embrace tourism as a catalyst to drive other industries of the economy, and enable the basic survival of all other sectors.
The Spruce Up Jamaica National Tourism Debate will be hosted at the Palace Multiplex Cinema in the Second City and is expected to raise an awareness of tourism issues among schools, as well as assist students in considering their career choices in the industry. Sixteen schools will compete for the winning trophy and will debate on tourism-related issues.
The debate, which will be aired on local cable stations, is being sponsored by Margaritaville, One Luv Productions, Ward Power Tools, Rokeef Autocare and NMIA Airports Limited. tashieka.mair@gleanerjm.com

[Assasin]

Mi lose offa dem. How long dem a tek fi pass the casino law?

Good intiative for the high schoolers. Them need to take it further.

[Assasin]

Ja on track for US$2-b earnings, says Tourism director

BY MARK CUMMINGS cummingsm@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
MONTEGO BAY, St James - Director of Tourism John Lynch on Monday said Jamaica is still on track to realising US$2 billion in earnings by the end of the year, despite the global economic downturn.
According to Lynch, up to the end of last month, tourism raked in some US$1.4 billion and he expects the figure to reach the US$2-billion target during the winter season, which begins next month.
Director of Tourism, John Lynch (centre) makes a point during Monday's press briefing at the Tourism Centre in Montego Bay. At left, is Sandra Scott, regional director at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Canada, while deputy director of tourism, David Shields is at right. (Photo : Phillip Lemonte)
Last year, the sector earned US$1.9 billion.
Meanwhile, Lynch, who was speaking at a press briefing at the Tourism Centre in the resort city of Montego Bay on Monday, said the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) has undertaken a raft of marketing strategies in an effort to generate business for the upcoming winter season.
"Just three weeks ago we started television advertising in the United States and Canada," Lynch said, noting that the JTB is spending roughly US$10 million on marketing the island during the season.
Other marketing strategies, Lynch told reporters include:
. live radio broadcasts by 35 US, Canada and United Kingdom-based radio stations from Montego Bay and Ocho Rios over the next two weeks;
. a one-hour television documentary on Jamaica to be aired on all major networks across the US including ABC and NBC;
. the hosting of the 14th annual Caribbean Multinational Business conference to be held in Montego Bay this weekend, which will have in attendance several ministers of Caribbean and members of the Congressional Black Caucus, and the launch of the London-based tourism company
. TUI, worldwide 2010 Summer Product scheduled for Ocho Rios later this month.
At that launch, he added, about 100 journalists from across the UK will be in attendance.
In the meantime, the director of tourism said Jamaica has secured one million airline seats out of the United States, Canada and Europe for the upcoming winter season.
"Our airlift situation is better than it has ever been. We have secured one million seats flying into Jamaica between January 1 and April 30. that is to the extent that the airline have confirmed their schedules to us, so we know that that is definitely on the books," Lynch boasted, adding that last year the island had roughly nine per cent less airline capacity.
Scheduled carriers, which will be offering new service to Jamaica, include US Air, which will start service between Montego Bay and Phoenix on December 17; Jet Blue which commences service between Orlando and Montego Bay on January 11, and AirTran out of Baltimore, starting February 10.
Just last week, British Airways recommenced service from Gatwick, London to Montego Bay, after an absence of seven years, while on Friday, JetBlue began service from New York to Kingston.