JAMPRO targets tourism sector on Colombian investment mission
AS JAMAICA Promotions Corporation (JAMPRO) seeks to diversify Jamaica’s tourism sector and attract investments from new markets, it led a promotional mission to Colombia to attract hotel investments at the Expo COTELCO, Colombia’s largest hotelier conference.
The two-day conference took place in Pereira, Colombia, from October 18 to 19.
JAMPRO has identified Colombia as a potential market for investments in tourism as part of its Latin American market development strategy, which seeks to boost economic partnerships with Jamaica’s neighbours in Latin America and the Caribbean. With this investment promotion mission, which included meetings with COTELCO and other Colombian government and private sector stakeholders, JAMPRO aimed to strengthen the relationship between Jamaica and Colombia and to persuade Colombian hoteliers to invest in Jamaica’s tourism sector.
Colombian hotel chain Decameron Hotels and Resorts has already developed three hotels in Jamaica, and JAMPRO President, Diane Edwards, hopes to add to this number after the investment mission in Pereira.
Describing the reason for JAMPRO’s selection of Expo COTELCO for attendance, Edwards said: “We are always strategic when it comes to targeting new markets, and for Colombia, Expo COTELCO is really the ideal event to promote Jamaica for tourism investments. It is the only event that brings together the entire Colombian hotel industry in a central space and is expected to have 1,000-plus attendees in attendance to interact and transact business.”
Edwards said that JAMPRO has identified Colombia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic as three major markets to receive the agency’s focus for development in the 2018-2019 financial year.
She further noted that JAMPRO would be executing various activities in these markets to create more opportunities for investment and export. She said: “These markets are great partners for Jamaica, and they already have diplomatic and business ties with the island. What we aim to do is develop these relationships so there can be more economic cooperation and growth in Jamaica’s industries.”