Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness, says the Government is making significant investments in various sectors of the island to make it even more appealing to visitors.  

“I want you to know that the Administration of the country is working overtime to ensure that not only do we create a brand-new Jamaica—safe, secure, sustainable and seamless—but we are actually doing the things to make that happen,” the Prime Minister said.

Dr Holness was addressing Sandals Resort International’s Mega Showcase at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James, on Wednesday, October 16. Some 1,000 travel advisors and other overseas tourism stakeholders were in attendance.

The Prime Minister assured the audience that the Government invests heavily in the island’s national security. “The investments that we have made in the last five years will be more than the investments made in the 30 years before. So today, I can report that all major crimes are down, and homicides are down by 19 per cent, and the prediction is that it will continue to go down,” he said.

Dr Holness noted that the Government is also making “massive” investments to improve the island’s two main airports—Sangster International in St James and Norman Manley International in Kingston.

He also announced that plans are “well advanced” for the construction of a new airport in the tourist town of Negril, in Westmoreland. Dr Holness added that the Montego Bay Perimeter Road, now being constructed in the parish, also forms part of the Government’s “seamless strategy”.

“So, the Montego Bay Perimeter Road and all the other roads that are linked to that will improve our seamlessness. That is a US$225-million investment, which is already underway and will become usable by the end of next year,” he noted.

The prime minister further informed that plans for a bypass of Lucea, in Hanover, have commenced, and that the north coast corridor between St James and Ocho Rios will also be further developed. “There is a US$2-billion plan to develop that road corridor and, indeed, going through Ocho Rios. So, all of that is going to make Jamaica one of the most seamless places that a visitor can come to,” he said. “Yes, you are going to come, you will enjoy the beaches, love the sun and the sand, but you will be able to leave your hotel and go to all the attractions that are there. You will be able to go into the far reaches of the country with ease and get back to your plane or ship on time.”

The Sandals Resort International’s Mega Showcase forms part of Sandals’ inaugural ‘Jamaica Love’ celebration, which began on October 13 and ends on October 20. Over the eight days, travel advisors and other foreign tourism stakeholders will learn more about the island’s tourism product, including attractions, Jamaica’s heritage and more, as the resort chain aims to promote the country as a top vacation destination.