Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

[evanovitch]

Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain
Monday, 13 July 2009
Jamaica continues to hold its own in visitor arrivals despite the recession affecting its regional neighbours.

This is according to tourism Minister Ed Bartlett who says some properties, including the Spanish hotel chains operating in the island, are maintaining a high occupancy rate.

Mr. Bartlett who was speaking at the first anniversary celebration of the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Hotel in Point Hanover on the weekend said that was one such property.

"We have not had to lay off staff or close hotels. Indeed we have been increasing tourist arrivals constantly every month for the year so far except the month of March,"

Prior to opening, the US$159 million investment had several hitches due to labour issues which resulted in demonstrations and riots

However despite this, it provided 2,000 direct jobs in construction and has since employed more than 1,000 persons, making it the largest employer in Hanover.

Mr. Bartlett had high praises for The Grand Palladium which <span style="font-weight: bold">has catered to more than 10,000 local guests </span>over the past year.

&quot;<span style="font-weight: bold">And it's important because you are helping to maintain the stability of Jamaica. You are helping to maintain the social stability of our country and you are ensuring the political stability of this nation,&quot; Mr. Bartlett said. </span>

The Minister adds that he is confident that the industry will continue to grow despite the global crisis, due to the marketing strategies employed in Europe, Central and South America.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain
Monday, 13 July 2009
Jamaica continues to hold its own in visitor arrivals despite the recession affecting its regional neighbours.

This is according to tourism Minister Ed Bartlett who says some properties, including the Spanish hotel chains operating in the island, are maintaining a high occupancy rate.

Mr. Bartlett who was speaking at the first anniversary celebration of the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Hotel in Point Hanover on the weekend said that was one such property.

&quot;We have not had to lay off staff or close hotels. Indeed we have been increasing tourist arrivals constantly every month for the year so far except the month of March,&quot;

Prior to opening, the US$159 million investment had several hitches due to labour issues which resulted in demonstrations and riots

However despite this, it provided 2,000 direct jobs in construction and has since employed more than 1,000 persons, making it the largest employer in Hanover.

Mr. Bartlett had high praises for The Grand Palladium which <span style="font-weight: bold">has catered to more than 10,000 local guests </span>over the past year.

&quot;<span style="font-weight: bold">And it's important because you are helping to maintain the stability of Jamaica. You are helping to maintain the social stability of our country and you are ensuring the political stability of this nation,&quot; Mr. Bartlett said. </span>

The Minister adds that he is confident that the industry will continue to grow despite the global crisis, due to the marketing strategies employed in Europe, Central and South America.


</div></div> I am looking forward to when they sell Air Jamaica and start complain that Airlines are practicing anticompetotove strategy onthem. Demanding more and more way beyond what they lose annually (which should havebeen seen as an investment in th etourism industry).

[evanovitch]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

u haffi love wi..we ha an airline whe wi dont own..we ha hotels we dont own and wi soon ha an island we dont own...wen mi juss read weh di money minista in his rebuke re a panhangle remark, himself a gi out dat since REMITTANCE is dung, we bruk, u haffi undastan weh wi deh...remittance as a pawt of u GDP it look like...(weh di shaking head ting deh)

[evanovitch]

Remittances to Jamaica fall 17 per cent

Remittances to Jamaica fall 17 per cent


JamaicaObserver.com

Posted: 7/13/2009 1:41:01 PM

REMITTANCES to Jamaica fell 17 per cent during the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2009, according to data released by the World Bank today.

The Washington, United States-based institution said that it had revised downwards its earlier projection of a decrease in remittance flows to Latin America and the Caribbean from minus five per cent to -7.3 per cent.

The bank said in a statement today that remittance flows to Latin America and the Caribbean had continued to grow last year, albeit at a slower rate of two per cent, &quot;reflecting continuing weakness in the job market in the United States.&quot;

&quot;The slowdown in remittance flows that became evident in the last quarter of 2008 has continued into the first half 2009. As the US job market weakness continues, officially recorded remittance flows to the Latin America and the Caribbean region have dropped significantly in the first half of 2009. In Mexico, remittance flows in 2009 year-to-date have declined by 11 per cent compared to a year ago, after a four per cent decline in 2008. Jamaica has registered a sharper 17 per cent decline during the same period.&quot;

However, the bank said that the rate of decline in flows to Latin America and the Caribbean should level off, with a smaller decline in the second half of the year.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">u haffi love wi..we ha an airline whe wi dont own..we ha hotels we dont own and wi soon ha an island we dont own...wen mi juss read weh di money minista in his rebuke re a panhangle remark, himself a gi out dat since REMITTANCE is dung, we bruk, u haffi undastan weh wi deh...remittance as a pawt of u GDP it look like...(weh di shaking head ting deh) </div></div>It no diffeent from foreign corporation that their profits are returned to th ehome fo the shareholders. The taxpayers invest in many of who are sending remittances. It is jsut that th eoriovate sector fall down on theri responsibillity to create industries to harness the skills of those who have to leave the country.

[Marilyn]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: evanovitch</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain
Monday, 13 July 2009
Jamaica continues to hold its own in visitor arrivals despite the recession affecting its regional neighbours.

This is according to tourism Minister Ed Bartlett who says some properties, including the Spanish hotel chains operating in the island, are maintaining a high occupancy rate.

Mr. Bartlett who was speaking at the first anniversary celebration of the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton Hotel in Point Hanover on the weekend said that was one such property.

&quot;We have not had to lay off staff or close hotels. Indeed we have been increasing tourist arrivals constantly every month for the year so far except the month of March,&quot;

Prior to opening, the US$159 million investment had several hitches due to labour issues which resulted in demonstrations and riots

However despite this, it provided 2,000 direct jobs in construction and has since employed more than 1,000 persons, making it the largest employer in Hanover.

Mr. Bartlett had high praises for The Grand Palladium which <span style="font-weight: bold">has catered to more than 10,000 local guests </span>over the past year.

&quot;<span style="font-weight: bold">And it's important because you are helping to maintain the stability of Jamaica. You are helping to maintain the social stability of our country and you are ensuring the political stability of this nation,&quot; Mr. Bartlett said. </span>

The Minister adds that he is confident that the industry will continue to grow despite the global crisis, due to the marketing strategies employed in Europe, Central and South America.


</div></div>

I suppose something is better than nothing, but by in large what these places call &quot;employment&quot; does not fit my definition. (except I am told Ritz Carlton).

[Marilyn]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

Question....is the above mentioned &quot;remmittance&quot; allegedly the profit share that the foreign owned hotels kick back to Jamaica for using their beautiful country???? Is this what we would term &quot;taxes&quot; in the US???

[halfwaytree]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

Remittances = money sent to Jamaica by the diaspora

[jah_yout]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

i forgot who wrote (back in the 60's or 70's i think) that we are selling ourselves into a new kind of slavery with tourism; and it's really true

[Gen]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

more than likely the foreign hotels are not paying taxes to the govt. (tax breaks) but promised the govt to staff the hotels with local people thus providing employment.

remittances come from outside the country.

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Marilyn</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Question....is the above mentioned &quot;remmittance&quot; allegedly the profit share that the foreign owned hotels kick back to Jamaica for using their beautiful country???? Is this what we would term &quot;taxes&quot; in the US??? </div></div>

[Panajar]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i forgot who wrote (back in the 60's or 70's i think) that we are selling ourselves into a new kind of slavery with tourism; and it's really true </div></div>


Excellent point,all tourism does is to condition our people to be good &quot;servants&quot; and bootlickers!!!!! ...at the beck and call of foreigners ..While the few domestic puppet masters reap the majority of the benefits. These hotels look just like a plantation... white people laying around while the &quot;servants&quot; are all black.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Panajar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i forgot who wrote (back in the 60's or 70's i think) that we are selling ourselves into a new kind of slavery with tourism; and it's really true </div></div>


Excellent point,all tourism does is to condition our people to be good servants and bootlickers!!!!! ...at the beck and call of foreigners ..While the few domestic puppet masters reap the majority of the benefits. </div></div> Everybody is aservant to others. iserve people sick people everyday.

[jah_yout]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Panajar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i forgot who wrote (back in the 60's or 70's i think) that we are selling ourselves into a new kind of slavery with tourism; and it's really true </div></div>


Excellent point,all tourism does is to condition our people to be good servants and bootlickers!!!!! ...at the beck and call of foreigners ..While the few domestic puppet masters reap the majority of the benefits. </div></div> Everybody is aservant to others. iserve people sick people everyday. </div></div>

yea but you are in a position of power in that relationship;

the tourism thing keeps the people conditioned to serve their overlords...i mean all the ownership &amp; big people in these hotels &amp; tourist-catering spots are foreigners or jamaicans of elite j'can classes, while the bulk of the laborers are black common folk...
it is a vivid example of the class (&amp; color) divide &amp; the j'can gov'r lack of a backbone

[Panajar]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Panajar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jah_yout</div><div class="ubbcode-body">i forgot who wrote (back in the 60's or 70's i think) that we are selling ourselves into a new kind of slavery with tourism; and it's really true </div></div>


Excellent point,all tourism does is to condition our people to be good servants and bootlickers!!!!! ...at the beck and call of foreigners ..While the few domestic puppet masters reap the majority of the benefits. </div></div> Everybody is aservant to others. iserve people sick people everyday. </div></div>

You can never build a strong prosperous country, based on a service economy.

[Dr.Dudd]

Re: Jamaican tourism continues to hold strain

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Panajar</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dr.Dudd</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Panajar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">[quote=jah_yout]i forgot who wrote (back in the 60's or 70's i think) that we are selling ourselves into a new kind of slavery with tourism; and it's really true </div></div>


Excellent point,all tourism does is to condition our people to be good servants and bootlickers!!!!! ...at the beck and call of foreigners ..While the few domestic puppet masters reap the majority of the benefits. </div></div> Everybody is aservant to others. iserve people sick people everyday. </div></div>

You can never build a strong prosperous country, based on a service economy. [/quote But evert product you produse is only aquired as a result of th eservices it gaves. ana automibile is a simp,emeans of transport which is a swrvice. it reallydoe not matter what you sell it bpils down to a service. now if you state thattourism cannot be of benefit I would saytoyou look at the most affluentplaces and you will see that toyrism is a droiving force in th eprosperity. The reason why Jamaican tourism is not of benefit, is because ther are no strategies to use Jamaican products to suppirt it. Like ahriculture,etc. unless you benefit from the vertical chain of th eservoce you don't become prosperpus. but every industry has their weaknesses and jamaica jsut happen to ne oblivious of that