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Over 900 new jobs with new hotel projects - Tourism Minister6:24 pm, Tue July 2, 2013
Dr Wykeham McNeil - Minister of Tourism
Dr Wykeham McNeil, the Minister of Tourism has announced that the sector will add 930 new jobs with two new hotel projects that are set to come on stream. In his contribution to the Sectoral debate in Parliament on Tuesday, McNeil said the RIU Palace now under construction in the western city of Montego Bay, is expected to create 500 new jobs when it opens in the next winter tourist season.
He added, that the Courtyard Marriott, which is to begin construction next week, will add a further 430 jobs when it starts operating.
McNeil also disclosed that tourist arrivals rebounded in May and June, after a downturn in the first four months of this year.Tourist arrivals dipped 3 point 1 percent in the winter tourist season, from December to April as air seats out of Canada declined.However, with new deals to increase airlift out of Canada, Dr McNeil says growth has returned in May and the trend continued in June.
Concerning cruise lines, McNeil said new cruise lines are being wood to dock in the island. He said the Norwegian Epic will be docking in Ocho Rios, for the first time next year, while Royal Caribbean will return to the resort town.
The expectation is that 1.4 million cruise ship passengers will visit Jamaica next year.
Dr Wykeham McNeil - Minister of Tourism
Dr Wykeham McNeil, the Minister of Tourism has announced that the sector will add 930 new jobs with two new hotel projects that are set to come on stream. In his contribution to the Sectoral debate in Parliament on Tuesday, McNeil said the RIU Palace now under construction in the western city of Montego Bay, is expected to create 500 new jobs when it opens in the next winter tourist season.
He added, that the Courtyard Marriott, which is to begin construction next week, will add a further 430 jobs when it starts operating.
McNeil also disclosed that tourist arrivals rebounded in May and June, after a downturn in the first four months of this year.Tourist arrivals dipped 3 point 1 percent in the winter tourist season, from December to April as air seats out of Canada declined.However, with new deals to increase airlift out of Canada, Dr McNeil says growth has returned in May and the trend continued in June.
Concerning cruise lines, McNeil said new cruise lines are being wood to dock in the island. He said the Norwegian Epic will be docking in Ocho Rios, for the first time next year, while Royal Caribbean will return to the resort town.
The expectation is that 1.4 million cruise ship passengers will visit Jamaica next year.