Cummings

WESTERN BUREAU:

President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA), Wayne Cummings, has welcomed the People's National Party's (PNP) manifesto pledge to offer a tax break to small hoteliers.

"This is exciting news for the hotel industry," he said.

"We have been doing some work with the Ministry (of Tourism) to look at special assistance to the small hotels, because we were concerned that they might be left out of the growth strategy plan. But the fact that the money has been identified is an indication that they are committed to make this happen."

Luxury rooms

While some 15,000 new hotel rooms have been constructed under the present administration, the JHTA president said it was imperative that these rooms be placed in the luxury category - in order for the smaller hotels to survive.

"... A lot more must be done by whoever forms the next government. I have read both manifestos, and none of them adequately address the issues facing the small hotels," Mr. Cummings said. "I wanted to see the issues being clearly articulated, knowing that there are many of the hotels who are now at the point of closure or sellingtheir premises."

He added: "I had a keen interest in the plans that the PNP has because they have had stewardship of the industry for a long time, and are aware of some of the problems that are faced by small hoteliers."

Former JHTA president, Godfrey Dyer, was elated at the news that the PNP would provide a tax break for small properties.

"This is a significant step in the right direction, one of the best attempts ever made to assist the small hoteliers," he said.