Tourism Minister hailed the JCTI organised initiative

The Jamaica Centre of Tourism Innovation (JCTI) has staged the first ever Career Expo 2023 for tourism students, which was a tremendous success and a departure from its usual role of providing internationally bench marked certification in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts for workers as well as high school and college students.

The expo, held this week in the second city of Montego Bay provided a platform for high school and college students to learn about both traditional and non-traditional roles, while also offering employers and professionals the chance to meet prospective job seekers and interns. Twenty companies participated, featuring booths and displays.

The expo was the perfect opportunity for students to learn about available job opportunities and qualifications required. The expo was held in partnership with the Tourism Product Development Company to showcase the diverse range of careers available in the tourism industry.

Objectives of the Expo

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, in his remarks, stated that Career Expo 2023 is a significant event on the calendar of the JCTI, which was founded in 2017 to certify workers, students in high schools and colleges, and tutors to deliver the requisite courses.  He stated that the Career Expo will:

• Help to expand the range of job opportunities available in tourism beyond bartending, guest room attendants, and cooking.
• Bring to the attention of students, their parents, and their guidance counselors the less familiar job opportunities in tourism.
• Provide an opportunity for students, their parents, and guidance counselors to connect with the companies in the sector that are hiring workers.

According to the tourism minister, “this Career EXPO is therefore intended to expand the public’s understanding of what is a ‘tourism’ job to introduce high school and college students in particular to the traditional and non-traditional opportunities available through tourism, to expose tourism employers and professionals to high school and college students – Jamaica’s future workforce”.

He added: “Finally, it will provide guidance counsellors and recruitment professionals with information about available tourism jobs to which they can refer graduating students and recent graduates who show an interest in the industry.”

Through the Career EXPO, Bartlett is hoping that students will develop a better understanding of the tourism industry and the necessary skills that are required to pursue a career in it once you have the right qualifications, commitment, and attitude.

Additionally, it is a great opportunity for students to network with potential employers and other professionals, as well as gain access to resources that can help you in your career development.