The not so "all inclusive" tourism in Jamaica: Economic linkages to local supply

The government of Jamaica enacted a strategic master plan in 2010 to encourage the tourism sector’s inclusiveness by enhancing the participation of villas and other small lodging accommodations, increasing the use of locally grown produce, and encouraging commercial activity with formal and informal goods and services providers. An inclusive industry with strong economic linkages should encourage broader distribution of income and welfare. Field work was undertaken to assess stakeholders’ views on their commercial activity with the tourism industry. The sampled participants report stagnant and in some cases declining economic linkages with the industry. The results indicate that initiatives should be further undertaken to ensure a wider economic reach of the nation and region’s largest sector