Church Service Marks Start of Winter Tourist Season
We are pleased with the progress being made in the tourism sector. The attainment of over 3 million visitors is no small achievement. There is room for further growth, but we have work to do. Crime or the perception is an issue which needs cleaning up.
Attacks on tourists are rare but when the foreign press links lotto scamming to gang fued which leads to deaths then an unsafe environment is created.
Stake
Visitors need to feel safe at all times. It is good that Government is tackling the crime issue. There needs to be public education which should target the scammers and youths. They need to be told that any activity that sends a negative image of Jamaica to the world will affect Brand Jamaica.
Tourism dollars need to be seen to be filtering down and through the Tourism areas in particular. People will ask, what is in it for me? Locals must feel they have a stake in the success of the tourism sector. From to tot to the senior citizen.
We wish the sector success. Minister Bartlett and team are doing a great job.
Hopeton O’Connor-Dennie is Senior International Correspondent & Photojournalist for Vision Newspaper Canada.