GREEN ISLAND, Hanover — Ed Bartlett is projecting that in five years Hanover will be western Jamaica’s strongest tourism parish.

Bartlett made the forecast Thursday during a visit to Princess Hotels in Green Island, Hanover.

“So, you have 5,000 rooms right within the area, from Rhodes Hall [in Orange Bay] to Point in Lucea,” Bartlett, the tourism minister, stated, adding that Lucea, the capital of Hanover, is to become a tourism town, paving the way for it to be marketed as a resort “in the same way that we are going to be marketing St Thomas as a destination”.

Meanwhile, Delano Seiveright, senior adviser and strategist in the Ministry of Tourism, told the Jamaica Observer that Grand Palladium Hotel in Point, Hanover, which has 1,000 rooms, is slated to double this figure, while Viva Wyndham Resort in Rhodes Hall will be constructing 1,000 rooms. He added that Princess Hotel will officially open to the public in January 2024 with 2,000 rooms. The three projects, he said, are expected to cost approximately US$1 billion.

Earlier in the day, the minister, his team, and the Member of Parliament for Hanover Western Tamika Davis toured the historic Fort Charlotte heritage site in Lucea.

Seiveright said Fort Charlotte forms part of development plans the Government has for Lucea.

While not providing details, Bartlett suggested a maritime experience for Fort Charlotte while addressing stakeholders in Negril later in the day.

He also spoke of a bypass road for Lucea, Hopewell, and Sandy Bay.

“We have an opportunity to create a new corridor in the north western wide of Jamaica,” stated Bartlett.