OCHO RIOS, St Ann - Chief Executive Officer of Lannaman and Morris (Shipping) Limited, Harry Maragh, has suggested that craft markets in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay merge their operations to have one facility in each resort town, to maximise earning from cruise ship passengers.

"The craft market issue is one that has to be analysed further. The cruise lines don't have enough time to visit all the craft markets all over Montego Bay and Ocho Rios. I (have) recommended that the government look at establishing two craft markets, one in Montego Bay and one in Ocho Rios, develop them, get the people to discuss how they would share the stalls and that sort of thing," Maragh told reporters at a ceremony to welcome a cruise ship on its maiden voyage to Ocho Rios on Thursday.

Maragh added that the craft markets have to merge in order to enjoy the full support of the cruise lines, which only spend around 10 hours in berth.

"They're in here 7 o'clock and they are out here at 4:30/5 o'clock and they're very proud of their on-time record, they are not going to jeopardise that at all," Maragh said.

Maragh also suggested that craft makers make their items on spot at the craft shops as a form of attraction.

Craft vendors in both tourism resort towns have, for years, complained of slow sales among cruise passengers and have, on several occasions, mounted protests to vent their frustration at what they said was lack of support from the government.

In the meantime, Maragh said there has been a decrease in tourist harassment in the resort areas. The decline in harassment, he said, was reflected in the percentage of passengers disembarking from each vessel.

". I look at how many people (are) coming off the ship daily and today it's about 70 per cent coming off and that's excellent, that's how I look at it," he added.

gilchristc@jamaicaobserver.com

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