1 week ago
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The Ministry of Tourism plans to undertake a review of the Tourism Linkages Network, following revelations that the programme has not delivered on its core economic objectives.
“The programme’s actual contribution to national income has fallen short of expectations,” noted the tender by the ministry seeking a consultant to lead the review.
The consultancy is scheduled to run for 40 weeks, beginning in November 2025.
Launched in 2013, and then expanded in 2016, the linkages network was designed to deepen local supply chains and retain more tourism earnings within Jamaica’s economy. Its practical aim was to increase the consumption of locally sourced goods and services by the hotels, in particular, and to integrate more small and medium-sized suppliers into their procurement network.
“This underperformance has been largely attributed to persistent leakages in tourism earnings and the insufficient integration of the local population in ways that meaningfully enhance their economic and social welfare,” stated the tender document, titled ‘Consultancy for the Revision of the TLN Policy Action Plan’, released earlier this month.
The findings point to structural weaknesses in the tourism economy, particularly the continued reliance on imports and limited engagement with local communities.
That reality has led Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness to urge Jamaica’s agricultural producers to invest seriously in their capacity to supply goods to the hotels consistently, in order to claw their way into that market space.
Speaking at a Caribbean Poultry Association confab in New Kingston in May of this year, the prime minister cited the poultry sector as evidence that such investment pays off in the form of long-term contracts.
“If you are going to look at it from a commercial standpoint, you need the endurance of massive capital investment that will mitigate against the cyclical nature of agriculture. And the only way to do that is to have controlled farming; and to have controlled farming, you need to have large investments,” said Holness.
“It is clear that the poultry industry leads the way, and it’s a good model for us to study and learn from,” he said.
The Tourism Linkages Network, and latterly its five sub-networks dealing with gastronomy, health and wellness, sports and entertainment, shopping, and knowledge of the tourism market and its main agencies, were initially launched to bridge the gap between tourism and other productive sectors — such as agriculture, manufacturing, entertainment, and services — by fostering stronger commercial ties and reducing import dependence.
“There is now a critical opportunity to assess whether the existing approach is sufficient, or if a stronger policy thrust or strategic reorientation is required to achieve more inclusive and transformative outcomes, particularly for small and medium tourism enterprises and underserved communities,” the tender document indicated.
The tourism ministry’s decision to revisit the structure comes amid continuing calls for tourism to deliver more equitable development. For 2025, it is projected that Jamaica will receive 4.9 million tourist visitors and the sector will generate US$5.2 billion in foreign exchange.
With Jamaica’s tourism industry rebounding post-pandemic, and adding higher-value offerings such as luxury accommodations and experiential travel, policymakers face growing pressure to ensure that growth does not exacerbate existing “disparities”.
The upcoming review is expected to examine the linkages network’s operational model, funding mechanisms, and partnership strategies. It may also explore new instruments to incentivise local sourcing, improve SME access to tourism markets, and embed community development goals into tourism planning.
Interest groups across the tourism value chain — including farmers, artisans, transport operators, and hospitality providers — are expected to be invited to contribute to the review process.
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