Bartlett turns eyes to faith-based tourism

HORACE HINES Observer staff reporter hinesh@jamaicaobserver.com

Monday, May 09, 2011

MONTEGO BAY, St James — Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett has expressed confidence that next month's scheduled arrival of more than 3,000 Christians to participate in Jamaica Praise Fest 2011 will propel faith-based tourism in the island.

The visitors are set to arrive on the cruise ship Carnival Destiny.

"We are certainly thankful... giving thanks today as we are on the cusp of kick-starting Jamaica's involvement in faith tourism in a more meaningful way," the tourism minister remarked last week at a press conference to launch Praise Fest/Cruise With A Cause 2011 held at the Tourism Centre in Montego Bay.

The Ministry of Tourism has partnered with the internationally renowned Praise Fest Ministries and Dove Ministries to stage the event that will run from May 30 to June 1.

During this time, the visitors from several denominations will aim to minister to 133,000 students from 230 schools across Jamaica and inmates in four penal institutions.

The three days of activities will culminate in Montego Bay with a grand concert on the popular Dump Up Beach along the waterfront, featuring internationally acclaimed Christian artistes and evangelists such as Donnie McClurkin, Hezekiah Walker, Byron Cage, Casting Crowns, The Crabb Family, Martha Munizzi, Vickie Yohe, Jentezen Franklin, Lex Luger, John Hege, Apostle Daniel, and many others.

Meanwhile, Bartlett said the mission, which will include 500 religious ministers from several churches in the United States, could also serve to boost business for the Montego Bay Convention Centre.

"A significant aspect of this particular mission is that it will bring onboard some 500 pastors of some of the largest congregations in the United States. The implications for that is significant for future interaction and particularly for the use of our convention facility because we know that these churches have large conventions," Bartlett noted.

Meanwhile, Dr Matthew Dunaway, president of Praise Fest Ministries, and Lorna Chambers, president of Dove Ministries International, expressed their pleasure at partnering with the Ministry of Tourism in staging the event.