By Garwin Davis,
Staff Reporter
Rhodd
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE TOURISM Master Plan, a projected US$2 billion investment aimed at taking tourism on a path of long-term sustainability, was unveiled last week to mixed reviews in two of the island's resort towns.
Officials from the Ministry of Tourism met with business interests in Port Antonio last Tuesday, in what was the beginning of a round of regional consultation by the Government to gain a national consensus on the plan. The second stop was in Ocho Rios on Thursday where the Ministry officials met with members of the St. Ann Chamber of Commerce and the Ocho Rios business communities.
Funding for the 10-year plan will see the private sector, namely investment in hotels and attractions, bearing 73 per cent of the cost. The public sector-led project will need just over US$542 million, with nearly US$220 million to come from the Government of Jamaica.
Residents of both resort areas were, however, concerned over whether the projected funding of the plan would be realised. As one woman from Port Antonio noted: "We have seen many master plans being proposed but the implementation has always been another story".
Sunil Sinha, a consultant to the Ministry of Tourism and who reportedly led the development of the plan, conceded in the meeting in Port Antonio that the jury was still out until the money to finance the plan was put in place.
And reacting to the plan, Portlanders, while acknowledging that it could go a far way in straightening out the problems facing the industry, were wary because their parish was always being left behind.
Building contractor, Errol Hannah said that it had become fashionable for Port Antonio to be placed on the back-burner and that the Government should find a way to make the resort town more easily accessible to visitors.
"Why is Port Antonio always left behind?" he asked. "Coming in from a 7 1/2 hour trip from Europe, we have to make it both easy and comfortable for the visitor to get to Port Antonio," he said. He stressed that for the plan to work, everybody had to be made to feel as if they are a part of the industry.
Member of Parliament for East Portland, Donald Rhodd, while lauding the Tourism Ministry for coming up with the master plan, said that he had some concerns regarding plans for his parish.
"We need the Ken Jones Aerodrome to be upgraded to an airport," he noted. "I heard the consultant say that he didn't think that should be a priority, but I have to part company with you on that one."
Mr. Rhodd also pointed out that there had to be a degree of co-operation between all citizens for the master plan to work and noted that it had to be specified in a clear and concise manner.
In Ocho Rios last Thursday, the exchanges between some residents and Ministry officials regarding the plan was a lot more fiery. Craft vendors, in particular, were upset that not much was made in the plan to address their concern and warned officials that they would not sit idly by and be left out of the industry.
Minister Portia Simpson Miller told the vendors that they had to clean up their act, including product offering, before they could realistically expect to see any dramatic changes in their fortunes. She stressed that her approach wasn't a political one but something that was born out of a desire to see the industry move forward.
"There will be great employment opportunities for everyone," she promised. "Jamaica has the opportunity to become the premier destination in the world for tourists and therefore we will have to find solutions to our many problems." She added that the continuous harassment of visitors and the peddling of drugs on the beach must stop.
Ocho Rios business woman Nancy Chatani noted that the entire island stand to benefit from the implementation of the plan and that regardless of which political party was in power, tourism was the real winner.
"The Minister's approach is for inclusion rather than partisanship which is a plus for this master plan," she added.
