MONTEGO BAY, St James — Twenty-six hotel staffers, disc jocks and entertainers graduated from the inaugural Capacity Building Training Programme for Disc Jockeys (DJs) in Hotels at a ceremony held at Iberostar Rose Hall Beach Resort in Montego Bay St James on Thursday.

The graduates were drawn from across four resorts.

The programme is an initiative of the Tourism Linkages Network’s Sports and Entertainment Network, with training developed and delivered by Delano “DJ Delano” Thomas and the Silent Noise team.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett suggested the addition of ‘Team Jamaica training’ as a module for the programme.

“The flagship programme of Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCO) provides persons in the tourism sector with the knowledge, interpersonal skills and attitude for delivery of quality service, and is the benchmark for tourism awareness programmes within the Caribbean,” said Bartlett.

In the meantime, Bartlett, who noted that music tourism is a rapidly expanding tourist niche, revealed that his ministry’s leveraging of February’s Reggae Month to appeal to visitors is among a comprehensive framework of strategies to tap into the market.

“In addition, the month marks the birthdays of two of Jamaica’s most recognisable musicians, the ‘King of Reggae’ Bob Marley and ‘Crown Prince’ Dennis Brown — both great selling points,” Bartlett said.

He further noted: “In addition, we are increasing awareness of Reggae Month’s full slate of activities to recognise and celebrate the contribution of music to the islands economic and vibrant culture.”

Bartlett also pointed to the establishment of the island’s maiden entertainment centre in Montego Bay by 2020 to further enhance Jamaica’s tourism and entertainment sectors.

For his part, DJ Delano reasoned that the programme prepares the DJs to think unconventionally.

“The thing about this programme was to let you all know how to think outside the box, how to engage the crowd, how to just communicate and just make the entertainment more touching with the guests,” Delano said.