WITH THE potentially dangerous asbestos-laced roof now removed, the Urban Development Corporation is going all out to give a new look to the Victoria Craft Market in downtown Kingston.

Work crews have started making changes to the front of the building and vendors are hopeful that this will help in efforts to revitalise the craft market.

"We are satisfied with the work they are doing, and we are hopeful that this will work. And with Digicel opening next door, maybe things will be better," said one craft vendor who gave her name as Kerri-Ann.

"So far, so good. It is not much but in can gwaan," added Maya, another vendor.

Vendors in the downtown Kingston craft market have long complained that while they have been managing to survive, business is slow as shoppers are not coming in.

The vendors argue that there is an easy fix to their problem, "repair the port and let cruise ships start docking there again, and we will be fine," one vendor claimed.

According to vendors, while Jamaicans do come looking for bargains, it needs tourists to push critical volumes of sale.