With reported expansion in Jamaica's tourism industry, the Government of Spain has funded a study on national training for workers in the tourism industry.

Spanish Ambassador Jesus Silva announced that the funding, which is 50,000 euros (about J$4.35 million), was facilitated by the Spanish Government and the Spanish Agency for International Cooperation.

About four representatives from the renowned Valencia School of Hospitality and Tourism in Spain have arrived in the island to conduct the extensive study.

Ambassador Silva said, in 2006, Spain had approximately 58 million tourists and they hope by providing additional funding for hospitality programmes that Jamaica may increase its tourist arrivals.

Tourists want more

"We (Spain) too once was about sun and sand, but now tourists are coming to the country for other offerings such as the culture and history," said Ambassador Silva.

The team of consultants hope to collaborate with a wide cross section of persons from the tourism sector in Jamaica and has met with representatives of educational institutions such as the Human Employment And Resource Training (HEART) Trust's School of Hospitality.

Within a month and a half, a formal report of findings from the study will be announced by the Spanish Government. The findings from the study will form the basis of the National Training Pro-gramme for workers in the tourism industry.

Funding for the study was approved last October in the CARICOM-Spain Joint Commission held in Kingston.

The Government of Spain also hopes to grant additional funds for the implementation of a Caribbean regional school of tourism in Jamaica.