By Denise Clarke, Staff Reporter
McNeill
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE LONG-AWAITED Tourism Master Plan for Sustainable Development will be one step closer to implementation when it is sent to the National Development Council next month.
According to the Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Dr. Wykeham McNeill, funding for the US$2 billion plan could be included in the budget as early as the next financial year beginning in April. As outlined in the draft of the 10-year master plan, nearly US$220 million of the total sum is to come from the Government coffers.
"The real truth is that the master plan has been developed. What we have to have now is the process of implementation. There are certain things that we really want to do and this year's budget we are looking at it... it's one thing having a master plan, we now have to put this master plan into a real budget," Dr. McNeill explained. He was speaking in Montego Bay recently.
Seventy-three per cent of the funding for the master plan is expected to come from private sector, namely through investment in hotels and attractions, while US$542 million will be realised from public sector-led projects.
With the master plan already two years behind schedule, the State Minister said there are still some areas that need to be fine-tuned before implementation. He cited as an example the development of major tourist attractions outlined in the plan, which, he said, should be projects led by the private sector.
"Within the master plan there were certain things that were to be done. A lot of big plans were included that were to enhance the tourism product, and what has happened is that a lot of those things are not for the Ministry of Tourism or TPDCO to do," he maintained.
The plan places great emphasis on community and heritage tourism, and calls for increased promotion to boost the country's market share and increase earnings. Specific targets were outlined for achievement during the 10-year period 2001 to 2010.
Among the targets are for stop over arrivals to reach 2.2 million at an annual growth of 5.5 per cent per annum, US$2,935 million in visitor expenditure at a rate of 8.4 per cent per annum, 130,000 persons to be employed in the industry at a annual increase of 5.7 per cent, and for the tourism industry to earn US$1,800 million annually in foreign exchange.
The plan also proposes the development of heritage sites, with emphasis on entertainment and sports facilities. In addition, a town or village would be selected each year for a contribution of US$2 million for its development as a cultural/heritage centre.
Accompanying all this development, would be a major marketing thrust with coordination
between the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and other marketing agencies. The Ministry
of Tourism and Sport would be the main coordinators, with the JTB, the Tourism
Product Development Company (TPDCO) and other agencies responsible for implementation.
