William Doyle-Marshall, Contributor
ASSAMBA
TORONTO:
JAMAICA'S MINISTER of Industry and Tourism, Aloun Assamba, issued an appeal to Canadian travel agents last Thursday to send their clients to Kingston because it is the capital of the Caribbean and the capital of Reggae.
During her address to a luncheon gathering of just under 100 media practitioners and travel partners, she made what seemed like an impromptu promo for the city of Kingston.
Accompanying the Minister were Director of Tourism Paul Pennicook; Director General of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism, Carrole Guntley; and JTB's Regional Director for Canada, Pat Samuels.
In an attempt to woo visitors to the island capital, the Minister said Kingston was like any big city with its fair share of problems. "You know there are places in Toronto that you don't walk in the day much less in the night. Same thing for Kingston. But there are places that are very safe," the Minister assured luncheon guests.
"Jamaica is as exciting as ever. Part of our excitement, which we would rather not have, and I couldn't stand up here in front of you and speak without recognising that we do have crime. We have our problems but there is not one country or one city that doesn't have this," the minister emphasised.
JAMAICA IS 'SAFE'
The Minister assured the Canadians that crime against tourists in Jamaica is really very, very low. If people make bad or unwise decisions then something might happen to them. Usually it does not.
"We try as far as it is possible to ensure that our visitors are safe. We try to ensure that Jamaicans are safe too. Sometimes we are good at it and sometimes we are not as good as we ought to be". But it doesn't mean that as a country we are not there to welcome you and your visitors and say 'come to Jamaica because you are going to have the time of your life'," Assamba charged.
The Minister admitted being very excited about Kingston because not enough visitors get to feel the heartbeat of Jamaica, which is Kingston. "So even if they only come there for a day, they will be caught in a positive way and would want to come back and spend an overnight, go to the theatre."
She itemised some of the activities for visitors like museums, horse racing, gaming lounges, music, the clubs and of course the food.
Taken from the Canada Extra, a Gleaner Publication
