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Tourism earnings leaking from region — Bartlett
Friday, May 14, 2010
JAMAICA'S Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is concerned that enough tourism dollars aren't staying in the Caribbean, and has suggested that regional countries forge a collaborative unit in order to hold on to those earnings.
He said that with most Caribbean nations solely or significantly dependent on tourism for their economic survival, it is essential for those nations to work together to find ways to minimise the "leak".
Bartlett said that <span style="font-weight: bold">many destinations are retaining as low as seven cents of every dollar tourists spend</span>, noting that much of the tourist dollar "goes back to where it came from".
"<span style="font-weight: bold">Nobody in the Caribbean is saying that we are getting 60 cents or 80 cents of the dollar remaining.</span> The failing is that we have not been able, in the region, to tap fully into the supply chain and to be able to ensure that every cent from the dollar stays in the destination," he lamented.
The Jamaica Tourism Minister said Caribbean destinations have not been able to accomplish this, because they have not invested in the "supply side" of the industry.
He pointed out that research has shown that only about three per cent of the produce from the agricultural sector currently goes into tourism, while other industries supply between 15 and 35 per cent.
"We quarrel about export issues and trade issues and competition in the global market for our commodities and agricultural produce, and we're sitting right here with an export industry that has the capability to absorb every kilo of our supplies, every unit, and we ignore it," he said.
Bartlett insisted that Jamaican farmers have the opportunity to tap into the tourism market, but must first ensure consistency and quality.
He argued that while they might not be able to compete with the rest of the world alone, farmers in the region can collaborate and link with others in the industry.
"If we supply those demands for the tourism industry, the Caribbean can become self-sufficient in many regards," Minister Bartlett said. "But it requires some innovation, some new thinking and this is where we are going."
Friday, May 14, 2010
JAMAICA'S Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett is concerned that enough tourism dollars aren't staying in the Caribbean, and has suggested that regional countries forge a collaborative unit in order to hold on to those earnings.
He said that with most Caribbean nations solely or significantly dependent on tourism for their economic survival, it is essential for those nations to work together to find ways to minimise the "leak".
Bartlett said that <span style="font-weight: bold">many destinations are retaining as low as seven cents of every dollar tourists spend</span>, noting that much of the tourist dollar "goes back to where it came from".
"<span style="font-weight: bold">Nobody in the Caribbean is saying that we are getting 60 cents or 80 cents of the dollar remaining.</span> The failing is that we have not been able, in the region, to tap fully into the supply chain and to be able to ensure that every cent from the dollar stays in the destination," he lamented.
The Jamaica Tourism Minister said Caribbean destinations have not been able to accomplish this, because they have not invested in the "supply side" of the industry.
He pointed out that research has shown that only about three per cent of the produce from the agricultural sector currently goes into tourism, while other industries supply between 15 and 35 per cent.
"We quarrel about export issues and trade issues and competition in the global market for our commodities and agricultural produce, and we're sitting right here with an export industry that has the capability to absorb every kilo of our supplies, every unit, and we ignore it," he said.
Bartlett insisted that Jamaican farmers have the opportunity to tap into the tourism market, but must first ensure consistency and quality.
He argued that while they might not be able to compete with the rest of the world alone, farmers in the region can collaborate and link with others in the industry.
"If we supply those demands for the tourism industry, the Caribbean can become self-sufficient in many regards," Minister Bartlett said. "But it requires some innovation, some new thinking and this is where we are going."
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