Bartlett launches ‘Local First’ policy to put Jamaicans at the centre of tourism growth
/ Our Today
administrator
Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has announced the launch of Jamaica’s new Local First policy, a framework aimed at ensuring that Jamaican workers, producers, and micro-enterprises are the primary beneficiaries of the country’s booming tourism industry.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, Bartlett said the new policy builds on the success of the Tourism Linkages Network and is designed to enshrine local participation at every level of tourism development.
“For over a decade, our Linkages Network has shown that tourism can drive real local development,” the Minister said.
“Local First will elevate that success into a national policy, ensuring that Jamaican farmers, artisans, manufacturers, transport operators, and micro-entrepreneurs have the first opportunity to supply our hotels, attractions, and tourism enterprises.”
Bartlett said the framework will include measurable local procurement targets and Community Benefit Agreements in each resort area to track how much of the tourism dollar stays in Jamaica. A Linkages Data Network will also be introduced to make those figures public.
He added that the policy supports the Government’s Vision 2030 National Development Plan and will ensure that the growth of tourism translates directly into improved livelihoods for Jamaicans.
“The truest measure of tourism success is not the number of arrivals—it is the number of lives improved,” he said.
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