Minister Shaw Urges Greater Linkages Between Tourism and Agriculture

Minister of Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, Hon. Audley Shaw, has urged stakeholders in the tourism industry to leverage the innate link that exists between the tourism and agriculture industries.
Speaking at the press launch and official signing of the Hotel Management Agreement between Amaterra Group Jamaica and Marriott International, Minister Shaw reiterated the need for the tourism industry to buy more local produce and support Jamaican farmers, in an effort to boost local production as well as reduce Jamaica’s reliance on imported produce to feed the sector.
“We must get to the point where our tourists are fed with predominantly Jamaican produce,” Minister Shaw told the gathering at the Hard Rock Café, in Montego Bay yesterday.
Minister Shaw further noted that with the millions of tourists who visit Jamaica’s shores, there is tremendous opportunity for the tourism and agricultural sectors, together, to have a significant positive impact Jamaica’s economic performance and the livelihoods of our farmers.
He said Jamaica’s remarkable culinary industry attests to the versatility of our Jamaican produce toward satisfying the appetite and palates of our tourists and urged hoteliers to make greater use of local crops in their various offerings.
The Amaterra Group launched the first set of 800 rooms of a proposed 8000 room all-inclusive development to be managed by Marriott International.
The project will also boast an agricultural component aimed at supplying the fruits and vegetables that the hotel will need and which will eventually be expanded across the north coast.
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