MONTEGO BAY, St James — Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness last Thursday called for a major shift in national thinking as he urged Jamaicans to see themselves as active competitors in a rapidly changing global landscape, arguing that such a transformation is critical if the country is to maximise the full economic benefits of tourism and investment.

Speaking during RIU Hotels & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala at RIU Montego Bay, Holness said the nation must abandon the notion that small states are unable to compete internationally, and instead embrace a more ambitious outlook.

“There is sometimes a mindset, especially for small nations, that we can’t compete in the global world. I say to every Jamaican, ‘We have to change that mindset and see ourselves as competitors on the global football field,’ ” the prime minister urged.

He argued that RIU’s 25-year presence in Jamaica reflects a deeper reality about the country’s development path, noting that the Spanish hotel chain’s investment represents far more than tourism expansion.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness (centre) prepares to cut a cake during RIU Hotels & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala at RIU Montego Bay on Thursday evening. Also participating are (from left) managing director of RIU Hotels and Resorts, Joan Trian Riu; Finance Director Naomi Riu; Opposition spokesperson on tourism, Andrea Purkiss; and Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett.

“Twenty-five years ago Riu made a choice, it chose Jamaica. That decision was not an inevitability. Riu could have invested in many destinations around the world. Instead, it chose Jamaica,” he said.

Holness argued that tourism occupies a strategic place in Jamaica’s growth agenda because it often serves as the first point of engagement with the country, helping to shape perceptions and build investor confidence.

“It showcases a nation’s potential. Tourism is the gateway to investment-led development,” he said.

He underscored that the same factors that draw millions of visitors to Jamaica — including stability, hospitality, connectivity and opportunity — are the very same conditions that influence where investors place capital and where skilled professionals choose to live and work.

A section of the audience at RIU Hotels & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala, at RIU Montego Bay on Thursday evening.

The prime minister said RIU’s long-standing investment has yielded substantial gains for the Jamaican economy through job creation, supplier linkages, and increased international exposure, while strengthening confidence in the country as a viable place for business.

He added that the Government’s investments in infrastructure, housing, public safety, and public service reform are all tied to a broader mission of positioning Jamaica as a preferred location for tourism, enterprise and talent.

“In many respects, Riu’s 25 years in Jamaica demonstrates that we are on that path. The confidence that Riu showed in Jamaica 25 years ago has been rewarding, and the confidence that Jamaica has placed in Riu has also been rewarding,” Holness said.

Managing director of RIU Hotels & Resorts, Joan Trian Riu highlighted the remarkable growth of the company in Jamaica since opening RIU Tropical Bay in 2001. From that first investment to the opening of RIU Palace Aquarelle, the company has expanded to seven hotels with more than 4,200 rooms, now welcoming around 500,000 guests annually. He underscored the hotel’s economic impact, noting that over the past five years the company has contributed more than $14.3 billion in taxes and social security, paid $12 billion in salaries, and spent $66 billion with local Jamaican suppliers, showing RIU’s deep and growing commitment to Jamaica’s tourism sector and economy.

Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness speaking during the RIU Hotels & Resorts 25th Anniversary Gala, at RIU Montego Bay on Thursday evening.

“Jamaica holds a unique and deeply emotional place in our family’s heart,” he said.

Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett highlighted that the 25-year partnership between RIU Hotels & Resorts and Jamaica has been one of the most impactful in the country’s tourism history. What began with a single investment at Bloody Bay in 2001, with the opening of the Riu Palace Tropical Bay, sparked a major renaissance of Spanish hotel chain investments in Jamaica.

“There is no denying that the relationship between RIU Hotels and Resorts and Jamaica is one of the most significant and enduring partnerships in the development of our vibrant tourism industry,” Bartlett remarked.

Ambassador of Spain to Jamaica María Fernández López de Turiso argued that RIU Hotels & Resorts has been the pioneer and catalyst for Spanish investment in Jamaica over the past 25 years, helping establish Spain as one of Jamaica’s strongest investment partners. He credited RIU’s leadership, its management and staff, and the support of Jamaican authorities, for building trust and creating a stable environment for continued growth in the partnership between both countries.