President of the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA) Clifton Reader is calling on suppliers to the tourism sector to engage in more research and dialogue with hoteliers to identify supply gaps.

While commending skilled artisans at the Christmas in July trade show for putting their shoulders to the wheel during the novel coronavirus pandemic, he said suppliers were still falling short of meeting the need of the tourism industry

“We are particularly pleased to see that you have survived the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic and wish you continued success. For all of you, I am proud that you have not wasted a good crisis,” Reader said, during the opening ceremony of Christmas in July at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel on July 12.

“We see recessive or dormant but still viable creativity coming to the surface. I believe many of you here got into your creative realms during the pandemic, brave enough to leave your 9-5 jobs to venture out on your own, and I know success is knocking,” he continued.

But convinced that there is more that the JHTA can do to facilitate local manufacturers, Reader assured participants that the doors of the organisation are always open and that he has challenged every single member to support “fledgling” manufacturers where possible.

Notwithstanding, he encouraged manufacturers to ensure that, along with providing quality and competitively priced products, they have the quantity of products to supply hotels. On this note, he related that purchasing agents have on occasion reported that while there are quality products that are competitively priced, there are challenges with securing adequate quantities.

Although Reader conceded that small players may not have the capacity to meet the demand of the tourism industry, he nevertheless urged those who produced similar products to form clusters that would ensure economies of scale. In addition, he pointed out that the JHTA could help with research and development.

“Research and development is where we should start in the hotel sector because too many times we make the best products, we fall in love with our products, it’s the best thing on the market, but you did not do your research to see exactly what we’re in need of. So that’s why I’m inviting hoteliers to invite you into their properties to see the need,” the JHTA president said.

“We also need to look at import substitution, and the only way you’re going to find that out is to check with us to see what we’re using that you can produce better and make sure that it’s more economical,” he added.

Christmas in July is an annual showcase for local micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to secure orders from hotels as well as orders for souvenirs and gifts ahead of the Christmas period. The two-day event, which will end today, caters to five categories of artisans — fine arts, aromatherapy, souvenirs, fashion, and processed foods.

Chief executive officer of the Jamaica Business Development Centre Valerie Veira pointed out that application for the showcase increased from 249 in 2021 to 314 this year. However, only 180 participants were selected for this year’s staging.

Continuing in the same vein as Reader, the JBDC CEO said, “We want a consummation of the marriage” between tourism and producers. She added that the aim of Christmas in July was to have more than one-time meetings, and instead to ensure ongoing “business facilitation”.

Also speaking at the opening ceremony, Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett explained that through the Tourism Linkages network and its partners, the Government has endeavoured to build the capacity of local suppliers. He noted that there are three key pillars: Training, financing and marketing.

“We start with training to build capacity and convert creative energy into products,” he stated.

By doing so, he said the aim is to “future-proof” the industry through building quality, consistency, volume and price. Furthermore, Bartlett noted that he wants to “remove the stigma of [Jamaica] being a destination of samples”.