Jamaica Sheds Light on UNWTO Conference Local Concerns

The Ministry of Tourism Jamaica has expressed desires for clarifying concerns surrounding the just ended ‘UNWTO and Government of Jamaica 2nd Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises’.

The ministry’s statement follows comments from the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association (JMEA), which hit out against what it described as government’s use of local funds and scare foreign exchange for supporting overseas jobs.

The manufacturers and exporters said that the Government’s resolve to use imported memorabilia for promoting brand Jamaica at events is damaging local businesses.

In its defense, the tourism ministry’s organizing committee said that the memorabilia were sourced through a local company which did not involve the UNWTO.

The Jamaican government recently collaborated with the UNWTO for hosting the Second Global Conference on Jobs and Inclusive Growth: Small and Medium Tourism Enterprises (SMTEs), at the Montego Bay Convention on January 29, 2019.