Message from the Tourism Awareness Officer

I take this opportunity to invite all my young fellow Jamaican students to join a club, i.e. the Tourism Action Club, that is passionate about the role we have to play in tourism and the development of a sustainable tourism product for our beautiful island Jamaica.

 Often times, persons feel that tourism is really for the investors and for those that work directly in the industry. However; we are on a mission to clarify this perspective and to inform all Jamaicans that tourism is really “everybody’s business”. It is through tourism that Jamaica is able to earn a significant portion of our foreign exchange and to provide jobs for thousand of Jamaican’s. Tourism is also a dynamic industry as there is a direct correlation between the growth of tourism and many of its linkage sectors such as agriculture, construction, cottage industries such as craftsmen, transportation etc.

As the Tourism Awareness Officer, I want to encourage the members of the Tourism Action Club to experience Jamaica’s tourist product for themselves and to develop a sense of pride about who we are as a people and our home that we share with our visitors when they come. The surveys show over and over that for many persons, one of the main attractions to the island of Jamaica as a destination of choice is the warmth and hospitality of the Jamaican people.

Jamaicans naturally are very engaging, entertaining and welcoming. For example, we love to tell stories, talk about our history, show people around and cook sumptuous meals for visitors. These are some of the simple attributes that our visitors find fascinating about us.

When you become a part of the Tourism Action Club, you become an extension of the work of the Tourism Awareness Unit in your school and in your community. You will use your talents to share the message with those around you that -tourism has always been and will always be a significant part of Jamaica’s economy and that it is through tourism that you and I will be able to have a better standard of living.

In closing, I want to welcome on board our vibrant team of students who share the vision of inculcating in the upcoming generation an appreciation for tourism. We want every Jamaican to play his / her part in making our visitors feel welcome to Jamaica. We want out visitors to go back home and talk passionately about what a great time they had in Jamaica and the wonderful people they met so that the next time they are thinking of planning their vacation, they think of no other place but JAMAICA! Welcome home!

Tourism Awareness Officer

Mrs. Shauna Housen