To date, there have been few known cases of transmission of COVID-19 along the Resilient Corridors, which is proof that our highly regarded health and safety protocols are working and testament to the high level of compliance by tourism stakeholders.

This is why, internationally, Jamaica is regarded as a leading example of how to create a safe and seamless travel experience for our visitors. More recently, we named a special task force to spearhead efforts to boost Jamaica’s COVID-19 testing capacity. This task force has been working along with the Ministry of Health and Wellness and tourism stakeholders, both within the public and private sectors, to boost Jamaica’s capacity to facilitate wide scale COVID-19 testing for visitors to the island.

On the issue of vaccines, Madam Speaker, I am pleased to announce that some two weeks ago we began the vaccination of people working in the tourism industry to ensure both their safety and that of our visitors. The inoculation of front-line workers in Jamaica’s number one service sector will aid in the quick and full recovery of the industry.

Madam Speaker, sustainability is integral to the recovery process. Hence, as we seek to take the offensive and seize the opportunities in the crisis, we are implementing strategic measures to rebuild a product that is safe, equitable and generates economic opportunities for more Jamaicans.

We continue to provide much-needed support to assist Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs) within the industry who are reeling from the effects of COVID-19, including artisans and craft vendors, transportation providers, restaurants and eateries, bed and breakfasts, and farmers.

Within the last few months, we have built out a robust support structure for enterprises within the sector. The Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) has collaborated with key partners to create several initiatives geared towards helping SMTEs retool and rebound from COVID-19, including the provision of resilience packages, loan facilitation and Ministry of Finance and the Public Service grants.

TRAINING OF TOURISM WORKERS

During the pandemic, we increased our efforts to train our hospitality sector workers, as this will be key in the resetting of our tourism industry. Madam Speaker, we are committed to developing a competitive and productive workforce that can benefit from opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industry.

This is why it was important for us to establish the Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI), which is a division of the TEF, tasked specifically with facilitating the development of Jamaica’s valuable human capital and supporting innovation for the tourism sector.

Since we began this initiative in 2018, it has facilitated the certification of some seven thousand one hundred and ninety-four (7,194) persons. This has been made possible through strategic partnerships with the Human Employment and Resource Training/National Service Training Agency Trust (HEART/NSTA Trust), Universal Service Fund (USF), National Restaurants Association (NRA), and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI).

Madam Speaker, the JCTI is taking steps to move most of its certification programs online and the AHLEI is in the process of upgrading its website to accommodate more online presentations.

Further, Madam Speaker, the JCTI is offering several middle management certification programs, to include:

– Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE)

– Certified Hospitality Housekeeping Executive (CHHE)

– Certified Hospitality Trainer (CHT)

– Certified Hotel Concierge (CHC)

In addition, 45 candidates have also taken their exams for the culinary arts certification offered by the American Culinary Federation (ACF).

Finally, the first cohort of the Hospitality and Tourism Management Program (HTMP), rolled out in select high schools in September 2018, in concert with the Ministry of Education, Youth & Information, has completed their course of study.

Madam Speaker, these graduates have a certificate from the AHLEI and an Associate Degree in Customer Service and are ready to take up entry-level jobs in tourism. We believe that these young people, from all across the country, will help to boost the sector’s competitiveness in the post-COVID-19 era.

My team will increase this focus on Human Capital Development and develop a Human Capital Strategy & Framework by 2022.

INVESTMENTS

Despite the challenges we have faced in our industry, our investment climate has been hopeful. Madam Speaker, our goal to dramatically increase the number of hotel rooms is still on track and I can safely say that 90 percent of the planned investments are still on target. In 2020, we welcomed:

· The development of the Chukka Ocean Outpost in Sandy Bay, Hanover, which is a US$3 million investment.

· The refurbishing of Overwater Bungalows was also completed by Sandals, so too was the refurbishing of RIU Montego Bay and the near completion of an additional 400 plus rooms at H10 Ocean Coral Spring in Trelawny.

Several attractions were also upgraded or developed during the period, including the ground-breaking for the US$2 million Red Stripe Experience museum at the picturesque Rick’s Café in Negril.

So, Madam Speaker, to give a clearer picture of investor confidence in Destination Jamaica, investments for 2021-2023 are as follows:

· Oceans by H10, Trelawny – Phase 2 with 444 rooms

· Oyster Bay, Trelawny – an additional 12 luxury rooms

· ROK Hotel, Kingston – 168 rooms

· Sandals, Negril – an additional 75 rooms

· Sandals, Whitehouse, St. Elizabeth – an additional 20 rooms

· Sandals Royal Caribbean, Montego Bay – an additional 48 rooms

· Wyndham, Kingston – 300 rooms

· Princess Hotels, Negril – 2000 rooms, Phase 1 with 1000 rooms

· Hotel Grand-A-View, Montego Bay – 60 rooms

· Terra Nova Mixed Use Development, Kingston – 30 rooms

· Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, St. James – 1700 rooms

In total, that amounts to well over 4800 additional rooms. What a vote of confidence in Jamaica, Madam Speaker.

In addition, Madam Speaker, The Harmonisation Group Limited (HGL) is set to continue work on the Harmony Cove tourism project in Trelawny during the 2021/22 fiscal year. This development will include several luxury hotels, world-class golf courses, a luxury spa, marina facilities, commercial developments, private residencies, and other amenities and is expected to cost some US$7.5 billion.

Also, Madam Speaker, we have spent billions of dollars expanding the island’s two major airports, developing beach facilities, regenerating heritage sites, building and upgrading piers, supporting craft development and constructing a national highway network to seamlessly connect tourists, hoteliers, businesses and markets in quick time. We continue to create an enabling environment to foster increased investment in tourism as we build forward stronger. The tourism industry is an eco-system that must be ready to return to pre-COVID-19 earnings of US$3.7 billion, which would allow us to bring back thousands of displaced tourism workers.

Madam Speaker, we are currently mapping out with players in our private sector Capital Markets, a potential contingency plan to make funding available for the recovery of the tourism sector should there be any systemic COVID-19 related issues with their existing financial arrangements. These, of course, are discussions which we will continue with our stakeholders and our Honorable Minister of Finance.