The Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) is an agency of the Ministry of Tourism . As a result, the JTB is affiliated with a number of other agencies under the Ministry, for example the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) and Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF); the JTB also works closely with other organizations such as the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) and Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI) in?? the marketing of Destination Jamaica.
Ministry of Tourism
The primary responsibility of the Ministry of Tourism is to develop coherent sustainable policies which respond to the needs within the portfolio areas.?? Heavy emphasis is placed on consultation with all stakeholders, including the private sector.?? As it relates to tourism, the Ministry aims to:
Develop policies and pilot legislation which facilitates sustainable development of the tourism product and investment in the industry as a whole
Develop policies and pilot legislation which would ensure the maximization of the social and economic benefits of tourism for the Jamaican people
Tourism Product Development Company
The Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo.) Limited has the mandate of developing and improving Jamaica???s tourism product. Its main responsibilities are:
Returning the national budget to a surplus position
Acting as a catalyst and facilitator in developing and implementing plans to improve the main resort areas
Identifying and prioritizing the area with potential for enhancing Jamaica???s tourism product, and to plan, develop and implement initiatives, in order to improve Jamaica???s competitiveness as a preferred tourism destination
Facilitating the best practicable reconciliation of aesthetic, cultural, architectural, economic and environmental considerations, all of which must be taken into account in securing co-operation from all parties concerned, in any specific project.
Tourism Enhancement Fund
The ???Tourism Enhancement Act, 2004??? was passed by Parliament in December 2004.This Act provided the legal basis for the Ministry of Tourism to establish a mechanism for the collection of a small fee from incoming airline and cruise passengers.Specifically, the Act allows for:
A Tourism Enhancement Fee of US$10.00 to be charged to incoming airline passengers and US$2.00 to be charged to cruise passengers.
The monies collected is paid into a dedicated Tourism Enhancement Fund
The fund was established on May 1, 2005 for the sole purpose of implementing the recommendations emanating from the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development, 2002.The Tourism Master Plan provides the framework in which TEF will fulfill its mandate of promoting growth and development in the tourism sector, encouraging better management of environmental resources in the Island, enhancing the overall tourist experience in the Island, and providing for the sustainable development of the tourism sector.VisionThe Vision of the Tourism Enhancement Fund is to see Jamaica as the most sought after tourist destination because of the following attributes:
natural beauty
warm and friendly people
well designed and attractive resort towns
diverse attractions
environmentally friendly posture
Organizational StructureThe Fund is managed by a Board of thirteen Directors who are experienced in matters relating to tourism and finance. There is a small, tight, highly qualified management team which works synergistically with the TPDCo and other relevant government agencies to carry out the mandate of the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development.
Jamaica Trade and Invest (JTI)
The mandate of JTI is to initiate and coordinate the development of plans, programmes and policies for the economic and financial development of Jamaica.In order to achieve this mandate JTI provides a wide range of services, which includes conducting research on national development issues and the provision of technical support to the Cabinet. JTI also undertakes consultancy activities for government entities; manage external cooperation agreements and interfaces with funding agencies, while maintaining a national socio-economic library.
Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA)
Established in 1961, the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association is the organisation, which represents Jamaican hotels, other visitor accommodations as well as most suppliers of goods and services to the tourism industry. The main aim of the JHTA is to promote the development of Jamaica???s hospitality industry and to represent the interests of its members in all fora, locally, regionally and internationally.JHTA promotes the interests of its members with government and its agencies, with other elements of the private sector and with international organizations. Through its association and representation on the Boards of Directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) it ensures a strong voice for its membership in the development and marketing of Jamaica???s tourism. The JHTA is a major member of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica (PSOJ). Its participation ensures a leading role for the private sector???s interests in the policies and programmes of the PSOJ.Internationally JHTA is affiliated with the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA), the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AH & LA) and the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IHRA). These valuable liaisons provide the JHTA with the opportunity to secure critical information and exposure for its members.
