KINGSTON, Jamaica — Prime Minister Andrew Holness has asserted that the country’s tourism product is poised for greater growth but, he noted that this growth and benefits call for increased responsibility.

The prime minister was speaking yesterday at the launch of the 27th staging of the Jamaica Product Exchange, JAPEX at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

“Rising tourism numbers are a serious responsibility that calls for proper management, better use of technologies and innovation, greater education among businesses, tourists and host communities, and closer coordination between public authorities and between the public and the private sector,” explained Holness.

This responsibility, he said, is to promote common values and responsibility to work together in a partnership for success in the tourism industry.

“Tourism intensifies our role as global citizens, stewards and ambassadors, calling us to be architects of a sustainable future,” he added.

Meanwhile, Holness noted that tourism is ideally positioned as a powerful catalyst for improving the socio-economic conditions of Jamaicans.

“In addition to creating jobs, by the nature of its operations tourism is a sector that has the potential to stimulate wide-scale economic activity, drive new growth in our communities and earn billions of dollars in foreign exchange”, explained the prime minister.

JAPEX is the single most important business generator for Jamaica’s tourism industry.

The two-day event of pre-scheduled appointments saw approximately 62 buyer companies with 105 buyer delegates and 99 supplier companies with 246 supplier delegates meeting face to face with Jamaica’s leading tourism suppliers to conduct business negotiations.