By Garwin Davis, Assistant News EditorCHAIRMAN OF the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Dennis Morrison, says that suggestions that the tourism sector is underperforming, with which he disagrees, was often a ploy used by industry players to get Government assistance.
Responding to questions Monday from journalists at a post-Cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, Mr. Morrison said that while visitor arrivals could be better, the figures were superior to what they have been over the past two years.
"It's an old trick that has been used over and over by the private sector," Mr. Morrison said. "The Minister (Tourism Minister Aloun Assamba who was also in attendance) might not want to say it because of her position, but its common to have industry players downplay performance to get Government to commit more by way of funding for PR, et cetera."
The JTB Chairman, without quoting the actual numbers, said the JTB was expecting a 10 per cent increase in growth for the sector, a figure he described as a "conservative estimate."
"We are now showing the figures we had been seeing prior to the 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States," he said. "I wont say that we couldn't do better- but there are indeed lots of positives."
JTB figures shows that the country, since last year, has been averaging between Montego Bay and Kingston - over 100,000 stopover arrivals per month, representing close to a 10 per cent increase compared to 2002.
And on the subject of the smaller hotels, Mr. Morrison said the Government was committed to doing its part in ensuring that they remain competitive. "There will always be a future for the small hotel sector," Mr. Morrison said. "They are, however, a weak link in a very competitive industry and it is important that they upgrade their offerings to meet world standards. We recognise that we have a role to play- the state that is. The Government will have to give financial and fiscal assistance but its critical that they do their part in the upgrading of their properties."
