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Greater support coming for some community-based tourism projects
BY INGRID BROWN Senior staff reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
SMALL and informal community-based tourism projects in rural Jamaica are set to receive greater support from Government and other funding agencies through a Community-Based Tourism Policy currently being developed.
The policy, which will allow these small enterprises to increase involvement in the wider tourism industry, will be implemented through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) project that is being funded by a US$15-million World Bank loan.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (right) observes as Dr Badrul Haque, special representatives of the World Bank, affixes his signature to the sponsorship agreement for the development of a Community-Based Tourism Policy at the ministry's New Kingston offices yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
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Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (right) observes as Dr Badrul Haque, special representatives of the World Bank, affixes his signature to the sponsorship agreement for the development of a Community-Based Tourism Policy at the ministry's New Kingston offices yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
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"The policy will help to identify deficiencies and hindrances for small community-based organisations to enter into the mainstream of tourism," Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said during yesterday's signing of the sponsorship agreement at the ministry's offices in Kingston.
According to Bartlett, the policy will also allow for these small enterprises to benefit from Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) loans, in addition to the training and technical support the REDI programme will provide.
The overall objective of the policy, he added, is to develop a framework aimed at enhancing the policy and institutional capacity to develop community-based tourism as a sustainable growth sector in Jamaica.
The policy, he said, will afford communities the capacity to play a greater role in the development of Jamaica's tourism industry by taking ownership of the industry and providing high-quality visitor experiences.
He explained that with 27 per cent of all stop-over and cruise ship tourists visiting such communities during their trip to Jamaica, this was a clear indication that the community-based tourism operators would benefit directly from the implementation of the policy.
"What we are seeking to do is to diversify our product offering to ensure our tourism product portfolio remains relevant, refreshed and meaningful in its contribution to the sustainability of the tourism industry," Bartlett said.
This, he maintained, fulfils the community-based development objective of the master plan for Sustainable Tourism, allowing communities to take ownership of tourism.
"We must broaden the base of ownership of the tourism product," Bartlett said.
Stephannie Hutchinson-French — project manager at JSIF — said that the objective of the policy is for community-based projects to exist and work within the marketplace alongside the larger entities.
"We also want to see what are some of the barriers to entries for community tourist products and service providers and see how the ministry will be able to alleviate or address these issues," she explained.
She stated that JSIF has already received some 80 applications from community-based projects and was in the process of selecting the products and services to support.
Meantime, Dr Badrul Haque — special representative to the World Bank — said Jamaica has recognised the need for a supportive framework for the smaller players in the tourism industry.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ABgJFmHp
BY INGRID BROWN Senior staff reporter browni@jamaicaobserver.com
Wednesday, January 05, 2011
SMALL and informal community-based tourism projects in rural Jamaica are set to receive greater support from Government and other funding agencies through a Community-Based Tourism Policy currently being developed.
The policy, which will allow these small enterprises to increase involvement in the wider tourism industry, will be implemented through the Jamaica Social Investment Fund (JSIF) Rural Economic Development Initiative (REDI) project that is being funded by a US$15-million World Bank loan.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (right) observes as Dr Badrul Haque, special representatives of the World Bank, affixes his signature to the sponsorship agreement for the development of a Community-Based Tourism Policy at the ministry's New Kingston offices yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)
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Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett (right) observes as Dr Badrul Haque, special representatives of the World Bank, affixes his signature to the sponsorship agreement for the development of a Community-Based Tourism Policy at the ministry's New Kingston offices yesterday. (Photo: Bryan Cummings) #slideshowtoggler { FILTER: none !important; ZOOM: normal !important}#slideshowtoggler A { FILTER: none !important; ZOOM: normal !important}#slideshowtoggler IMG { FILTER: none !important; ZOOM: normal !important}
1/2 "The policy will help to identify deficiencies and hindrances for small community-based organisations to enter into the mainstream of tourism," Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett said during yesterday's signing of the sponsorship agreement at the ministry's offices in Kingston.
According to Bartlett, the policy will also allow for these small enterprises to benefit from Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) loans, in addition to the training and technical support the REDI programme will provide.
The overall objective of the policy, he added, is to develop a framework aimed at enhancing the policy and institutional capacity to develop community-based tourism as a sustainable growth sector in Jamaica.
The policy, he said, will afford communities the capacity to play a greater role in the development of Jamaica's tourism industry by taking ownership of the industry and providing high-quality visitor experiences.
He explained that with 27 per cent of all stop-over and cruise ship tourists visiting such communities during their trip to Jamaica, this was a clear indication that the community-based tourism operators would benefit directly from the implementation of the policy.
"What we are seeking to do is to diversify our product offering to ensure our tourism product portfolio remains relevant, refreshed and meaningful in its contribution to the sustainability of the tourism industry," Bartlett said.
This, he maintained, fulfils the community-based development objective of the master plan for Sustainable Tourism, allowing communities to take ownership of tourism.
"We must broaden the base of ownership of the tourism product," Bartlett said.
Stephannie Hutchinson-French — project manager at JSIF — said that the objective of the policy is for community-based projects to exist and work within the marketplace alongside the larger entities.
"We also want to see what are some of the barriers to entries for community tourist products and service providers and see how the ministry will be able to alleviate or address these issues," she explained.
She stated that JSIF has already received some 80 applications from community-based projects and was in the process of selecting the products and services to support.
Meantime, Dr Badrul Haque — special representative to the World Bank — said Jamaica has recognised the need for a supportive framework for the smaller players in the tourism industry.
Read more: http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/...#ixzz1ABgJFmHp