ASSAMBA

Minister of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, Aloun Assamba, on Tuesday shrugged off concerns about the Bahía Principé hotel in Trelawny, which is not yet fully operational.

Speaking at a press conference at the ministry's headquarters on Knutsford Boulevard, New Kingston, Assamba said it was normal for such a large resort to experience teething problems.

She said on Monday night that 549 rooms at the 1,918-room hotel were now in operation with 890 guests.

She added that officials from the ministry, the Jamaican Tourist Board and the Tourism Product Development Company would continue to work closely with the hotel.

The Tourism Minister added that, on December 26, 2006, a charter plane with passengers from Spain and Portugal brought 240 guests to the hotel, a holiday package that was booked until the end of the Winter season.