AMERICAS - Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller, is calling for increased political recognition for the tourism sector.
 
Speaking at the 2012 Caribbean Tourism Summit in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Miller said: “Tourism has grown over the years to become one of the world’s most powerful economic sectors - delivering jobs, income and well-being around the world and deserves increased political recognition.
 
“Having served as Minister of Tourism and Sports of Jamaica, a country in which tourism plays a crucial and ever-growing role in the national economy, I am well aware of the need to raise the profile of tourism higher among decision-makers.
 
“Without recognition and support at the highest level, tourism is often blocked from delivering on its full potential, especially when policies on issues such as infrastructure and taxation are made in isolation of the sector. This is even more critical in these challenging economic times,” she continued.
 
Jamaica welcomes 2m international tourists a year, who generate US$2bn for the Jamaican economy. In 2011 the Jamaican Travel and Tourism industry supported 300,000 jobs and directly contributed US$1.1bn to the country’s GDP.
 
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