$3 billion for MoBay tourism - JamaicaObserver.com

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$3 billion for MoBay tourism

BY MARK CUMMINGS, Observer West senior reporter

Thursday, July 02, 2009

MONTEGO BAY, St James -Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett says the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) plans to spend $3 billion over the next five years to undertake a raft of projects, aimed at improving the tourism product in this resort.

"Montego Bay gets the lion's share of the TEF and the money that we will be spending will help to enhance the product that we have, and to build infrastructure in the resort area," Bartlett said.

The Minister, who is also the member of parliament for East Central St James, was speaking at last Thursday's Town Hall meeting hosted by the Prime Minister, Bruce Golding at the Montego Bay Civic Centre to discuss the implications of the 2009/2010 budget with the public.
Bartlett said among the projects to be funded by the TEF are:

. the construction of a $750 million hospitality school;
. a $250 million development of the roadway from the Sangster International Airport roundabout to Rose Hall, to be called the 'elegant corridor';
. a $435 million upgrade of the Hip Strip;
. a $40 million traffic management system, and
. $950 million to upgrade squatter settlements in Flankers, Norwood and Lilliput.

The TEF was established almost five years ago to provide a pool of dedicated funds for the purpose of improving the tourism product. The broad areas of interest include resort development, as well as product development and beautification.

Meanwhile, water and housing minister Dr Horace Chang, who also attended the meeting, said while the allocation from the TEF to upgrade squatter settlements in Montego Bay is inadequate, the funds would be able to address some of the problems affecting the informal settlements.

"It will not solve all the problems, but it is a beginning and we will be able to correct some of the problems," he said.