OCHO RIOS, St. Ann:
MINISTER OF Tourism and Sport, Portia Simpson Miller, has lauded the new management of the Royal Decameron Club Caribbean Hotel in Runaway Bay, St. Ann for improving and diversifying the tourism product at the property.
"I see tremendous improvement here, and I am happy that you are looking at others in which to invest," said the Minister. "I am for the diversification of our tourism product," JIS NEWS quoted Mrs. Simpson Miller as saying, during a tour of the resort recently.
The 30-year-old Club Caribbean property was taken over recently by a new management team and has been attracting visitors from new gateways in South America, especially since the start of the summer.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said she was also pleased that the new management was assisting the country "to open up new gates, because we need to expand our reach into other markets."
The Minister said that for the first time in many years, the country experienced some growth in visitor arrivals for the month of July.
Mrs. Simpson Miller said it was more important to concentrate on the tourism product, rather than a property. "I like your focus on domestic tourism, and that you are providing well needed employment for several others," she told the management team, adding that "if the product is good, persons will want to visit."
She emphasised that it was full time "for Jamaica to take on the world and be more assertive in the market place."
The all-inclusive Royal Decameron Club Caribbean Hotel, comprising 20 garden suites, 20 yard rooms and 135 private one-bedroom cottages, also has a gymnasium, rent-a-car service, disco bar, tennis court, boutique and wedding services.
