Ministry reviews ground transportation system for cruise passengers

The process by which cruise-ship passengers who visit Jamaica are transported from all ports to attractions and other locations will soon be streamlined.

In making the disclosure, tourism minister Edmund Bartlett said, "the current system, where various entities are responsible for the transfer of these visitors, will cease and, by the start of the 2011/2012 winter tourist Season, a new arrangement will come into being."

The minister outlined that, "the arrangement which now obtains at the Falmouth Port in Trelawny, where ground transportation for cruise passengers is handled by one company, is the model that I would like to see replicated at the island's other ports ... Ocho Rios, Montego Bay and Port Antonio. This will create more efficiency for the operators and reduce harassment of the visitors."

Bartlett added, "while the system that is being used in Falmouth is working well, I will be giving instructions to the stakeholders to review that model and make adjustments, if necessary, before it is implemented at all the cruise ports by December 15."

The tourism minister said, "the implementation process will be spearheaded by a team which will include president and chief executive officer of the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ), Noel Hylton; Deputy Director of Tourism Jason Hall; William Tatham of the Port Authority, and will draw on the expertise of the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the guidelines and deadlines are met."