Bartlett says St Thomas is new frontier for tourism

Tourism Minister Ed Bartlett said that the Government will be forging ahead with plans to develop new resort areas in places such as St Thomas, which he described as the new frontier.

Bartlett, opening the Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, said a destination assessment of St Thomas identified the parish as ripe for development. He said that it has numerous attractions and places suitable for the development of tourist accommodation of various types, which should appeal to a wide cross section of prospective visitors.

"Its close proximity to Kingston, and especially to the Normal Manley International Airport, suggests that considerable tourism development is possible, which will serve as a catalyst for the wider social and economic development of the parish," Bartlett said.

"We have made significant headway with the development of the support framework that will include product development, training, improvement of relevant infrastructure, and access to financing for rural communities," Bartlett said.

A tourism development plan for the parish, which was laid in Parliament last year, states that the aim is to "create unique experiences that will attract visitors to explore the parish and experience its diverse, natural ecosystem, new and compelling man-made attractions, its historical and cultural sites, and to have genuine interactions with the local community".

One of the parish's best-kept secrets, the Rocky Point beach, is among 10 beaches projected to be upgraded over the next three years.