Bartlett

WESTERN BUREAU:

MINISTER OF Tourism Edmund Bartlett says Jamaica could attract more 'high rollers' or heavy spenders with Cabinet's recent approval of an inventory-enrichment strategy to allow merchants to import more high-end products into the island.

These high-end products, Bartlett said, are, in most cases, easily accessible in other Caribbean islands.

"Our job as government is to enable shopping to happen by providing the basis for all quality type of goods to be merchandised here in Jamaica," he said while addressing yesterday's launch of the Spruce Up Jamaica National Tourism Debate at the Sunset Beach Resort and Spa in Montego Bay, St James.

"In perusing that, Cabinet in fact has just approved what we are calling an inventory-enrichment strategy, which will allow for our in-bond merchants, for example, to be able to bring in and have inventory goods at a higher price level with an arrangement that will allow them to pay a six per cent tax across the board relating to the sale of those high-ends."

New angle on shopping

According to Bartlett, the move will establish Jamaica as a destination where tourists can shop for high-end products instead of going to countries like the Cayman Islands, The Bahamas and the United States Virgin Islands.

"All those big brand names that wealthy people want to buy when they go to other destinations, we can have it in Jamaica now. The Government's new policy is going to drive those higher-end goods and we are going to see coming to us more and more of what you call the 'high rollers' - those who spend big money."

Casino law a catalyst

The tourism minister added that the casino legislation was also an attraction for the high-end spenders. He said there was a need for the nation to embrace tourism as a catalyst to drive other industries of the economy, and enable the basic survival of all other sectors.

The Spruce Up Jamaica National Tourism Debate will be hosted at the Palace Multiplex Cinema in the Second City and is expected to raise an awareness of tourism issues among schools, as well as assist students in considering their career choices in the industry. Sixteen schools will compete for the winning trophy and will debate on tourism-related issues.

The debate, which will be aired on local cable stations, is being sponsored by Margaritaville, One Luv Productions, Ward Power Tools, Rokeef Autocare and NMIA Airports Limited.

tashieka.mair@gleanerjm.com