Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo)

Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) is the central agency mandated by the Government of Jamaica to facilitate the maintenance, development and enhancement of the tourism product. TPDCo has been in operation since April 5, 1996, and is registered as a private company under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Tourism & Entertainment. A Board of Directors oversees the company's policies and strategic plans. The Executive Director reports to the Chairman of the Board and has a functional relationship with the Minister of Tourism & Entertainment, the Permanent Secretary and the Director General in the Ministry of Tourism & Entertainment. The company is designed to support government and quasi-government agencies in the development of the tourism industry, particularly by coordinating and facilitating prompt action between public and private sector interests. Members of TPDCO's Board are drawn from both the public and private sectors, and include representatives of the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association (JHTA), JAVA and each resort area. TPDCo's Chairman is appointed by the Government. Its mission is to facilitate the diversification, development and improvement of the tourism product utilizing an experienced and qualified staff to enhance visitor experience by building consensus and strategic alliances with industry stakeholders in order to engender socio-economic growth.

Jamaica Hotel and Tourism Association (JHTA)

Established in 1961, the Jamaica Hotel & Tourist Association is the organization, which represents Jamaican hotels, other visitor accommodations as well as most suppliers of goods and services to the tourism industry. The main aim of the JHTA is to promote the development of Jamaicas hospitality industry and to represent the interests of its members in all fora, locally, regionally and internationally. JHTA promotes the interests of its members with government and its agencies, with other elements of the private sector and with international organizations. Through its association and representation on the Boards of Directors of the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB) and the Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) it ensures a strong voice for its membership in the development and marketing of Jamaicas tourism. The JHTA is a major member of the Private Sector Organization of Jamaica. Its participation ensures a leading role for the private sectors interests in the policies and programmes of the PSOJ. Internationally, JHTA is affiliated with the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association. This valuable liaison provides the JHTA with the opportunity to secure critical information and exposure for its members.

Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB)

The Jamaica Tourist Board is charged with a mission of marketing the tourism product so that Jamaica remains the premier Caribbean tourism destination. To this end, we are positioning Jamaica as the most complete, unique and diverse warm weather destination in the world, which offers the best vacation value available. We operate in a fiercely competitive environment, arising from a growing appreciation by governments worldwide that they can create a high standard of living for their people by making tourism a priority for economic development. Attempts to organize a Bureau responsible for marketing Jamaica resulted in the formation of the Jamaica Tourist Association in 1910 whose primary purpose was to enhance the claims of the colony as a health and pleasure resort. They were also responsible for giving reliable information to both prospective visitors and those already holidaying in the island. In 1922 the government started its direct intervention in the promotion of the industry and enacted laws which saw the establishment of the Tourist Trade Development Board. This entity and the Jamaica Tourist Association were amalgamated in 1926. ROLE to keep Jamaicas profile as a tourism and travel destination, prominent in the international marketplace. To facilitate product improvement by working with the public and private sectors to improve and enhance those facilities which support Jamaicas image as a tourism and travel destination. Its goal is to become the best tourism and travel destination as measured by the international marketplace.

Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO)

The Caribbean Tourism Organization's main objective is the development of sustainable tourism for the economic and social benefit of Caribbean people. The CTO provides to and through its public and private sector members, the services and information to accomplish this goal. The CTO, with headquarters in Barbados, comprises 32 member countries, including English, French, Spanish and Dutch countries and territories, as well as private sector allied members. These include the Caribbean Hotel Association, companies, organizations and persons providing products and services to the Caribbean tourism industry. CTO's offices are located in the USA, UK, Canada and Barbados. CTO Chapters are located in France, Germany, the Netherlands, across the U.S. and in the Caribbean. CTO was established in 1989 with the merger of the Caribbean Tourism Association (founded in 1951) and the Caribbean Tourism Research and Development Center (founded in 1974)

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA)

Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) mission is to facilitate the full potential of the Caribbean hotel & tourism industry by serving member needs and building partnerships in a socially responsible and sustainable manner. CHTA first began in 1959 as a committee of the Caribbean Tourist Association - a public/private sector organization created to promote and market the region - in response to a specific hotel lobby. In 1962, CHTA became an autonomous body as a not-for-profit limited liability corporation registered in the Cayman Islands. CHTA was very much market-focused during its genesis - airlines controlled access, wholesalers controlled traffic and payments, and hotel reps controlled communications with travel agents, while the hotels themselves were not protected. Our main concern back them was for the hotel sector to regain some measure of control and address these issues as one. CHTA is headquartered in Miami, Florida, Finance Office in San Juan, Puerto Rico and a project office in Barbados. The Association is governed by a board of directors elected by the member national hotel associations, according to their size. Two directors are elected to represent airlines, five to represent other allied members, one to represent chain hotels, and one each to represent the Caribbean Society of Association Executives (CSHAE), the Caribbean Association of Industry and Commerce (CAIC), the Caribbean Council (CC), and the CaribbeanCentral American Action (C-CAA). The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) appoints three representatives to the CHTA board.

World Tourism Organization (WTO)

The World Tourism Organization promotes and studies international tourism. Headquartered in Madrid, Spain, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations. More than 900 million times a year, someone travels to another country. Travelers visit beaches, mountains, national parks, historic sites, festivals, museums, worship centers, and countless other attractions. Tourism is one of the world's most important industries and creates millions of jobs. The UNWTO is particularly devoted to promoting tourism in developing countries and has vowed to accomplish some of the UN's Millennium Development Goals. The UNWTO reminds travelers to be informed and tolerant in order to truly understand different cultures.