KINGSTON, Jamaica (JIS) — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has welcomed the US$1-million expansion and rebranding of the Prospect Outback Attraction in St Mary as the ‘Yaaman’ Adventure Park.

The new attraction, which was officially opened by Holness on December 1, is owned and operated by St Ann businessman and chairman of Dolphin Cove Limited, Stafford Burrowes.

Yaaman park, which is located on the Prospect Plantation in western St Mary, offers camel and horseback riding, dune buggies, and a ‘wet and dry’ tour, among other activities, with a zip-line aerial ride slated to be introduced shortly.

The facility, which was developed over the last six months, will provide direct employment for approximately 200 people and generate an additional 150 indirect jobs.

Hailing the development as a “major and significant investment”, Holness commended Dolphin Cove Limited “for taking the risk” and in the process “creating another First-World attraction”.

He said the undertaking indicates that the environment is “good for and supportive of business” and that the government remains committed to facilitating this over the long term.

Holness noted that Jamaica’s tourism product grew this year, a development which is “certainly helping to improve our economic growth prospects”.

He indicated that figures, as at October 31, show a 2.3 per cent increase in visitor arrivals over the corresponding period in 2015, with cruise-passenger arrivals increasing by more than nine per cent.

“This has resulted in increased revenue. Gross earnings now stand at 5.7 per cent above last year. That is a great performance and ties in with this administration’s mission of growing the economy by five per cent in four years. Yaaman Adventure will add greater value to these positive figures,” the Prime Minister said.

He reiterated the Administration’s focus on facilitating all-inclusive growth which translates into job creation, noting that the facility’s input will be pivotal to this end.

Holness further emphasised the need to create approximately 250,000 jobs to reduce underemployment and unemployment in Jamaica, contending that “every investment gets us one step closer to that”.

“We want more attractions in the country, because this will help to deepen and widen our tourism product. You have the support and encouragement of the Government of Jamaica (and) we will support and promote investments that are going to create jobs. Jamaica’s tourism product will be better off for this investment,” he added.

In her remarks, Labour and Social Security Minister Shahine Robinson said Yaaman Park’s development represents the incorporation of, and focus on employment, the economy and environment, three of the government’s priority areas.

She said Prospect Plantation has been a north-coast landmark that has been pivotal in tourism growth, job creation and youth empowerment in Ocho Rios and its environs.

The minister also lauded Dolphin Cove Limited’s commitment, through the development, to boost the country’s tourism product, describing it as a “clear indication of your confidence in the Jamaican economy”.

Meanwhile, Burrowes, in acknowledging tourism’s role in Jamaica’s ongoing development, said the future of the industry and, by extension, the economy “looks good”.