THE GOVERNMENT of Jamaica needs to trust the hospitality and tourism sector in order to stimulate the investment climate, says Josef Forstmayr the Immediate Past President of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association,.
He made the observation in his final speech as president of the JHTA at the organisation's 42nd annual general meeting, on Saturday, at the Wyndham Resort & Country Club. He did not stand for re-election.
Calling on Government to "remove the firewalls built around incentives that make it possible for genuine investors to take advantage of them," Mr. Forstmayr said the sector needed incentives that are simple, accessible and easy to understand.
He lamented the fact that, "we have grown so distrustful of each other that we assume everyone is a crook and surround everything good with such prohibitive regulations that honest people simply walk away from it, frustrated."
Then, he said: "If you can't trust hoteliers and attraction owners who have invested every cent they have in their plant and their staff... If you can't trust those who have operated in Jamaica for decades and never closed their doors... If you can't trust those who honour their financial commitments and contribute to their community as a matter of course... then who can you trust?"
Mr. Forstmayr congratulated the Government on recent infrastructural development to the island's ports and airports and construction of new roads, especially the North Coast Highway to Negril and Ocho Rios.
He had high praise too for new Director of Tourism, Paul Pennicook and his team, who "have begun the reorganisation of operations at the Jamaica Tourist Board for greater efficiency and effectiveness."
Mr. Forstmayr said that the JHTA and JTB will be working together to ensure Jamaica achieved much more than the two per cent annual growth in arrivals that has become the norm over the past decade.
The task he said, would require them to do some things differently including sharing of regional institutions, regional marketing efforts and intellectual capital and benefiting from the resulting economies of scale.
Noting the upcoming Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Summit in Jamaica next month, he reminded Caribbean leaders that "we are far removed from the lofty ideal of freedom of movement of people, goods and services throughout the region."
"All of us need to wake up and work together more. We continue to pay lip service but fail to give the attention needed to achieve meaningful integration. We are consumed by petty jealousies and who may benefit slightly more," Mr. Forstmayr said.
Declaring the hospitality and tourism industry "in good shape operationally," Mr. Forstmayr said that efficiencies are being improved daily and enhancements are being made to property and plant.
He welcomed new investors, like the Pinheiro Group which recently signalled their intention to develop their own unique brand of high quality all-inclusive at an affordable price in Jamaica.
Mr. Forstmayr cautioned, however, of the need to "focus our efforts on also attracting the international high-end brands with their enormous image-building potential, as it cannot be in our interest to put all our eggs into the all-inclusive basket."
