Caribbean View of Competition in Tourism Clouded, Jamaican PM Says

Calling for the Caribbean to compete for primacy of the complete tourism product, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says the region's vision on competition is both narrow and clouded.

"There is competition today. If you fear it, you will not survive tomorrow. We cannot fear competition," Simpson Miller said.

The prime minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Caribbean Travel Marketplace 2014 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre on Sunday night.

"My own sense, as former minister of tourism, is that the vision is narrow because it does not accept that we must compete for primacy of the complete product. Most destinations have sea and sun. So to compete effectively, the policy must be innovative and the strategy must embrace concepts of sustainability, as reflected in Jamaica's Master Tourism Plan," she stated.

According to Simpson Miller, Mediterranean competition and Latin American tourism establishments are rapidly embracing that approach already.

CARICOM, she said, must also reposition itself along those lines by building on frameworks and institutions that have already established.

Stronger regional links

Her criticism comes as she urged for stronger links between tourism and other sectors within the region.

Acknowledging the region's commendable performance in the industry, she said it is "one we can all be proud of. It has enormous potential for growth".

She outlined the drive in Jamaica to strengthen the linkages created between tourism and other sectors of the economy and encouraged other Caribbean destinations to undertake similar initiatives.

It was noted that a tourism linkages hub has been established in Jamaica's Ministry of Tourism and Entertainment. This linkages hub is driving a process to further develop and strengthen the linkages between tourism and other sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.

She emphasized: "This need not be a strictly national initiative. I would wish to see similar initiatives taking place on a regional level. There is enormous potential within our region to supply this sector's collective needs."

The prime minister noted that "some members of our Caribbean community have greater potential for agricultural productivity. Others may be further along the road in manufacturing. Forging firmer linkages between our productive sectors and the region's tourism sector can only be of benefit to us all. Jamaica would be a willing and active participant in any such initiative."

Source: The Jamaica Gleaner