KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) – Cabinet has given approval for Provisional Development Orders to be issued to Harmony Cove Limited and Celebration Jamaica Development Limited as approved integrated resort developers.

Harmony Cove Limited is expected to spend US$970 million in phase one of the project and create 1,237 direct jobs during construction and 2,706 direct full time jobs, once operations commence.

Celebration Jamaica Development Limited will invest in excess of US$500 million for Phase 1, with employment in excess of 2,400 persons.

Finance and Planning Minister Dr Peter Phillips made the announcement in a national broadcast on June 16, while giving a progress report on the country’s Economic Reform Programme (ERP) and the status of the economy.

The minister said the introduction of these integrated resort developments will further expand the country’s tourism product, and is a precursor to the granting of a casino licence.

“We confidently expect that this will lead to a strengthening of the tourism industry’s competitiveness and the bolstering of economic development through job creation, increased tax revenue and additional demand for locally produced goods and services,” Dr Phillips said.

“Each of these projects, under the terms of the Order, will be required to start construction by the middle of next year, and to ultimately construct 2,000 hotel rooms each,” he added.

The minister said the Government thoroughly assessed and reviewed the process prior to the granting of an approved integrated resort developer’s licence, “to determine the potential impact and sustainability of the proposed developments as well as the integrity of the related parties.”

Dr Phillips had announced in February that five applications were received for resort casino licences, which were being evaluated by the Cabinet.

This followed an invitation for proposals in June 2013 by the Government for Orders to become approved integrated resort developers.

The issuing of casino gaming licences is facilitated under the Casino Gaming Act, as an incentive for the establishment of a prescribed number of large integrated resort developments in the country.

Integrated resorts feature a range of amenities, such as hotels, convention facilities, entertainment shows, themed attractions, and luxury retail and fine dining, which are incorporated with casino gaming.