ST JAMES, Jamaica (JIS) — Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Dr Horace Chang, says the Government is playing its part in improving the tourism product by supporting quality attractions such as Chukka.

Addressing tourism stakeholders at the grand opening of the Chukka Good Hope Adventure Park in Good Hope, Trelawny, on Wednesday Dr Chang said the infrastructural work being carried out in Falmouth is a testament to the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the town’s aesthetic appeal is given a boost.

“We are getting the quality investments, so we have to ensure that the framework is also provided,” he said.

The minister added that he is particularly happy for the people of Good Hope, noting that there will certainly be trickled-down benefits for the community and, by extension, the town of Falmouth.

“The owners have personally expressed to me the high number of local community workers that are employed at the attraction,” Dr Chang said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chukka Caribbean Adventures, John Byles, said the secret to his company’s success is very easy.

“Our business model is simply to partner with property owners to host the range of Chukka attractions across Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean,” he noted.

“The profit-share arrangement we have with landowners has served to achieve Chukka’s objective of showcasing the best properties and natural attractions in Jamaica and parts of the Caribbean,” Byles said.

He pointed out that Good Hope is a 2,000-acre sugar plantation and riverside attraction, representing a US$4 million investment made over 18 months.

“This is the latest in an ongoing build-out of Chukka’s 10 Jamaican attractions and overseas locations in the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Belize,” he added.

The new adventure park includes a 300-foot water-slide, a 50-foot waterfall and a river walk area along a section of the Martha Brae. Other activities at Good Hope include a rainforest zip line, ATV driving, gem mining for children, river tubing, kayaking, and visiting a bird aviary as well as tours of the great house built about 1755.

Marc Melville, Chukka’s Director of Group Revenue and New Development, said the company is committed to maintaining an authentic Jamaican and Caribbean product of the highest standard.

Meanwhile, the company’s Group Sales and Marketing Manager, Rallana Davis, pointed out that the various Chukka properties offer a variety of fun-filled experiences all over Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Belize.

“In Jamaica, Chukka operates other properties at Lethe Estate on the Hanover/St. James border; Sandy Bay in Hanover; the Montpelier Jungle Outpost in St James; Mayfield Falls in Westmoreland; and Cranbrook Rainforest Gardens, the original Chukka Cove location, White River Valley; and zip-lining over the Dunn’s River Falls in St Ann,” she added.