Three female students to vie for Junior Tourism Minister title

Three young women are set to battle for the Junior Minister of Tourism title after emerging tops in round one of a competition, held recently at the Sandals Ochi Beach Resort in St Ann.

The finals will be held in the coming weeks.

The three, Jullisa Dujon from Manning’s School, Kaira Bowman from Montego Bay High School, and Caleader Lewison, representing Hampton School, will seek to take over from last year’s winner Taj Melbourne, from Manning’s, who returned this year to serve as master of ceremonies for the event.

They were tasked with delivering a three-minute presentation on the topics; sustainable practices, digital transformation in tourism, and regional connectivity and to give a one-minute response to a mystery question. They emerged as finalists over contestants from Bustamante, Jose Marti Technical, and Morant Bay high schools. Each student received a certificate for participating in the first round of the competition.

Tourism director, Donovan White, highlighted the competition’s role in developing Jamaica’s next generation of tourism leaders. “This annual competition allows young minds to delve into critical industry themes and develop creative solutions for our sector’s future. Our tourism (industry’s) success depends on nurturing the innovative spirit of our youth, who will ultimately shape and strengthen the strategies that keep Jamaica competitive globally,” he shared.

CONNECTS DIVERSE SECTORS

Lucretia Green, Tourism Information centre manager at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), expressed satisfaction with the quality of the presentations by the students.

“I am immensely proud of how well the students represented themselves and their schools today. There is a certain degree of bravery that is required for public speaking, and I commend each student for their courage,” she explained. Ms Green emphasised that, beyond building confidence, the competition strengthens students’ understanding of tourism’s vital role in Jamaica while expanding their knowledge of the environment and developing their research skills.

This year marks the third time that the JTB is collaborating with Sandals International for the competition and the hotel was pleased, once again, with the event.

General manager Carol Bourke, in noting the importance of tourism to Jamaica’s development, said Sandals was proud to support the initiative.

“Hosting the Junior Minister of Tourism Competition and welcoming students from eleven schools was truly an honour,” Bourke said. “All our students were winners today – they confidently shared the importance of tourism and reminded us that the future of the industry is in capable hands.”

Meanwhile, regional public relations manager, Lyndsay Isaacs, was excited at supporting the competition once again.

“Investing in young talent aligns perfectly with our commitment to Jamaica’s tourism future. Understanding tourism’s multifaceted nature – from hospitality to agriculture, transportation to entertainment – is crucial for our country’s continued success. This competition showcases how tourism connects diverse sectors and creates opportunities across our economy,” she emphasised.