FALMOUTH, Jamaica – Tourism Minister, Hon Edmund Bartlett has unveiled a daring and transformative initiative designed to raise Jamaica’s cultural tourism providing — the Tourism Leisure Academy (TEA). TEA formally launched on March 27 on the energetic Artisan Village in Falmouth. It goals to alter the island’s tourism by utilizing the ability of Jamaican leisure.
Tourism Enhancement Fund
The Academy is a venture that prices J$50 million. It’s led by the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF). The Ministry of Tradition, Gender, Leisure, and Sport helps this initiative. This funding goals to enhance Jamaica’s cultural tourism future.
Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett delivers the keynote deal with on the launch of the Tourism Leisure Academy.
“We checked out how we might construct out capability for leisure and sport within the tourism trade,” Minister Bartlett stated through the launch ceremony. “Leisure is such a robust aspect of the experiential tourism that we offer and provide as Vacation spot Jamaica.”
Blue Ocean Technique
The initiative aligns with the Ministry of Tourism’s Blue Ocean Strategy, which seeks to increase cultural experiences for guests whereas creating new alternatives for native expertise. The hybrid academy will mix on-line studying, in-person mentorship, dwell showcases, and trade integration to arrange artistes for world success.
“This isn’t simply one other coaching initiative,” Bartlett emphasised. “It’s a strategic intervention designed to perform 4 clear targets: professionalise and certify our leisure practitioners, ship high-quality performances, present sturdy return on funding, and develop a nationwide blueprint for leisure growth throughout the tourism ecosystem.”
Rising Native Expertise
The Academy will initially give attention to reggae, jazz, and comedy, with the pilot programme concentrating on native expertise from Montego Bay, Hanover, and Westmoreland. The inaugural cohort will embody six comedians and 19 musicians — an 11-piece reggae band and an 8-member jazz ensemble.
The Hon. Olivia Grange, Minister of Tradition, Gender, Leisure and Sport, additionally expressed her assist for the initiative: “This Academy will give our musicians and comedians the coaching and instruments they should sharpen their expertise, improve their professionalism, and most significantly, flip their abilities into sustainable careers.”
Minister Bartlett stated that Montego Bay would be the first place to check this system. The plan is to increase it to different vacationer areas, like Negril, Ocho Rios, and Kingston.
TEA goals to attach Jamaica’s wealthy inventive expertise with the rising want for high quality leisure in tourism. This may make leisure a key a part of the customer expertise and strengthen Model Jamaica.
