ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Government will be establishing Resort Management Units in towns across the island, beginning with Negril as early as September of this year.

Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett who made the announcement in Negril on June 24 in a meeting with tourism stakeholders, said the units will be established to provide a formal management structure for the country’s resort areas.

The units will receive support from existing tourism agencies, such as the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo), the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF).

Bartlett explained that Resort Management Units will operate as one-stop shops to enable the compliance of industry players with the various quality control and standards, which Government will be setting for the industry.

He said that to strengthen the new structures and enable their implementation, it will be necessary to amend the Tourist Board Act.

“Whilst we will be careful about protecting the destination and protecting you (the legitimate players), we are going to be equally careful about securing the highest quality of service to the visitors who come to our country,” he told the meeting.

“When you don’t comply, we are going to have to act,” the Minister told the industry players.

Issues affecting the Negril community and steps being taken by the Government to address them were also discussed.