FALMOUTH, Trelawny — Tourism operators have welcomed the Tourism Product Development Company Limited’s (TPDCo) Licensing Expo as a practical effort to make it easier for businesses to navigate regulatory requirements and access government and industry services.

The Falmouth leg of the islandwide initiative, held at the Falmouth Port on Thursday, brought together regulators, government agencies, financing institutions and business support organisations to assist tourism stakeholders with licensing, compliance and other operational needs.

For Marcel and Aretha Anderson, operators of a bar and grill in Falmouth, the initiative provided a direct route to finish licensing their business.

“They gave us very good information, and we actually got through the application to go forward and get a licence,” Marcel Anderson said.

Toni-Ann Alexander (left), branch manager at Companies Office of Jamaica, providing information to Alisa Esposito during the Tourism Product Development Company Limited’s Licensing Expo at Falmouth Port on Thursday. (Photo: Horace Hines)

The Andersons also cater to cruise passengers visiting Falmouth, making the business part of the network of small enterprises benefiting from the town’s cruise tourism traffic.

For Alisa Esposito, operator of Island Breeze Villa in Duncans Bay, the expo brought to her attention several regulatory and operational matters that now require follow-up.

“It’s just a lot of information at the same time, a whole lot of information that I didn’t know, and I feel like I have a lot of work to do,” she said.

Esposito has operated the villa as a rental for about a decade.

Meanwhile, a Jamaica Union of Travellers Association (JUTA) operator, who declined to give his name, highlighted the value of having multiple agencies available at one location.

Tatanya Burnett (right), licence processing officer at Tourism Product Development Company Limited, assists Marcel (left) and Aretha Anderson during Thursday’s Licensing Expo at the Falmouth Port. (Photo: Horace Hines)

“This is a wonderful opportunity for persons like myself in the transportation sector. There were people from every agency available to provide information and services,” he said.

The expo was staged under the theme ‘Tourism Rebound and Rebuild’, against the backdrop of the sector’s recovery following the impact of last October’s Hurricane Melissa.

TPDCo Deputy Executive Director Lionel Myrie said the initiative was designed to reduce the need for tourism stakeholders to visit multiple offices to address different regulatory and business requirements.

“Tourism works best when opportunity reaches the people. That is why we are here in Falmouth today,” Myrie explained.

From left: Tourism Product Development Company Limited team members Lionel Myrie, deputy executive director; Sheryll Lewis, licence processing and registration manager; and Marline Stephenson Dalley, corporate communications and community awareness coordinator, greet Maritime Authority of Jamaica’s Kalia Fisher and David Morris, customer service representative and registry clerk, respectively, during Thursday’s Licensing Expo at the Falmouth Port. (Photo: Horace Hines)

He said Falmouth was an appropriate venue given its importance as a tourism gateway and the opportunities generated by the thousands of visitors passing through the town.

Myrie pointed out that the expo also reflected TPDCo’s effort to broaden access to tourism opportunities, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.

“Tourism opportunities should not be limited to a few. They should be accessible to every Jamaican who is prepared to participate, innovate and provide quality service,” he said.

The Licensing Expo forms part of TPDCo’s wider efforts to improve compliance, strengthen standards, support entrepreneurship and streamline access to essential services across the tourism sector.