Hanover is on track to become Jamaica's leading tourism parish. This development includes plans for Jamaica's first casino tourism facility in Green Island.
Expansion Plans
A hotel in Green Island will add 2,000 rooms. Viva Wyndham intends to construct 1,000 rooms at Rhodes Hall, adding to the parish's capacity. Palladium is also expanding, planning 998 luxury rooms.
Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Tourism Minister, stated,
You are going to have, `among other things, the first casino tourism facility in the country right here in your parish, in Green Island. In short order, you will have 2,000 rooms at Green Island with just one hotel. Then we are going to build the Viva Wyndham for another 1,000 rooms at Rhodes Hall, and Palladium just outside of Lucea is now expanding with 998 more luxury rooms.
Tourism Workers
The Princess facility provides 500 rooms for tourism workers. Additionally, Palladium is constructing 600 houses for tourism workers.
Hon. Edmund Bartlett explained,
Hanover has… led the way, because you have the first hotel with rooms for the workers of the tourism industry – 500 rooms available in the Princess facility, and 600 houses are going to be built now by Palladium for the workers of the tourism industry.
Cruise Port Development
Hanover is under consideration for future cruise port development. Joy Roberts, Jamaica Vacations Limited (JamVac) Executive Director, is involved in plans to increase the number of ports of call across Jamaica, according to Hon. Edmund Bartlett.
Although we don’t have a cruise port yet in Lucea, [Jamaica Vacations Limited (JamVac) Executive Director], Joy Roberts, is part of the team that is looking at how we can increase the number of ports of call across Jamaica.
Hon. Edmund Bartlett also suggested potential cruise itineraries:
Very soon, Jamaica could be an itinerary for a cruise ship… from Lucea, to Negril, to Black River, to Port Royal, to Port Antonio, to Ocho Rios, to Falmouth, and back to Montego Bay.
Hon. Edmund Bartlett noted Tamika Davis, Hanover Western Member of Parliament's involvement. He said,
She is right there with the Palladium development [and] the Viva Wyndham development.
The handover ceremony occurred at the newly rehabilitated Lord’s Multipurpose Court in Lucea, Hanover on Thursday, July 3.
The government commits to inclusive tourism growth. Hon. Edmund Bartlett emphasized that the future of tourism should involve every parish, town, and citizen.
The future of tourism in Jamaica must include every parish, every town, and every citizen, not just those in the resort belts but [also] those communities… that are rich with character, culture and commitment… this is transformation,
stated Hon. Edmund Bartlett.
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