THE launch of a special fund for needy children in homes across the island is among the numerous activities planned by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year.

Additionally, the association has launched a poster, jingle and essay competition for primary and secondary schools as well as a lecture series for tertiary institutions during its six months of activities.

Evelyn Smith, chair of the JHTA 50th Anniversary Planning Committee, said with all the glitz and glamour associated with the industry, the JHTA is seeking opportunities to dedicate resources to the upliftment of the nation’s children.

Smith was speaking at a press conference hosted by the JHTA at the Spanish Court Hotel in Kingston yesterday.

“Our members are known to individually assist children, schools and children’s homes, however, as an association we feel compelled to collectively pool our resources to establish a fund that will continuously offer much-needed assistance in cash, kind and the giving of our own personal time,” Smith said.

The association said it has already started talks with the Child Development Agency (CDA) as it seeks the agency’s input in how best to utilise the funds.

JHTA President Wayne Cummings said the association wanted to work closely with the CDA to identify some of the greatest needs.

He said the aim was to raise money through major fund-raisers as well as the garnering of individual support both locally and overseas.

“We encourage individual hotel interventions to continue, but from the JHTA perspective we believe we have the opportunity to work as an organisation to bring together a consortium of persons who have a similar desire to help,” Cummings said.

Smith, at the same time, said that for the tourism industry to grow the association needed to play a lead role in the areas of education and training.

As such, she said a key component of the celebrations would involve the literary and artistic voices of children.

Smith explained that the JHTA has partnered with the Ministry of Education to launch the three competitions.

At the primary level, students can submit a poster or jingle depicting the theme “Tourism, Opening Doors For Our Future”, while at the secondary level there is an essay competition centred on the theme “Tourism…The Way to Jamaica’s Economic Development, Social Stability and Environmental Sustainability.” Cash prizes will be awarded to the national and regional winners, their teachers and schools in mid May.

At the tertiary level, symposia are planned for Mandeville, Kingston and Montego Bay between September and October with the main objective being to begin the discussion on the importance and impact of tourism in all aspects of Jamaican life.

“In the lecture series the issues of harassment is going to come up as well as how we will engage persons in the community and the issues of housing in tourism areas and so we want to challenge them to inform us through their writing and speaking so we can start to prepare the way forward,” Cummings said.

The JHTA will begin its anniversary celebration with a church service at the St Andrew Parish Church this Sunday and will culminate with a black tie gala anniversary dinner on October 29.

The annual trade show — JAPEX — will be held from September 18-21 in Montego Bay, St James.