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Help/FAQ

  1. Who is the Minister of Industry and Tourism?

    The Minister of Industry and Tourism is the Honourable Aloun Ndombet-Assamba

  2. Who is the Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism?

    The Minister of State in the Ministry of Industry and Tourism is the Honourable Wykeham McNeill

  3. Where is the Ministry of Industry and Tourism located?

    Contact MIT

  4. What is the difference between the Ministry of Industry and Tourism and the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB)?

    The Jamaica Tourist Board is one of the eleven agencies which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism. It is primarily responsible for the marketing of "destination" Jamaica while the Ministry of Industry and Tourism is responsible for setting the policy direction to guide the Jamaica Tourist Board as well as the other agencies.

  5. What are the agencies which fall under the purview of the Ministry of Industry and Tourism?

    The Ministry of Industry and Tourism is responsible for the following agencies:

    1. DEVON HOUSE
    2. FACTORIES CORPORATION
    3. KINGSTON & MONTEGO BAY FREE ZONES
    4. JAMAICA BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE
    5. MICRO INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (MIDA)
    6. SELF START FUND
    7. BATH FOUNTAIN HOTEL & SPA
    8. MILK RIVER HOTEL & SPA
    9. TOURISM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT COMPANY (TPDCo)
    10. JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD (JTB)/JAMAICA VACATIONS LTD
    11. JAMAICA RESERVATION SERVICES LTD

  6. When is the tourist season?

    The tourist season begins on December 15 and ends in April

  7. What incentives are available in the tourism sector?

    There are three incentive packages available in the tourism sector: They are the:

    Hotel incentive: The Hotels Incentives Act provides that a ten (10) year relief from GCT, income tax and import duty is available to:

    1. New hotels;
    2. Existing hotels adding a minimum of ten (10) rooms or thirty percent (30%) of the existing number of rooms (whichever is greater);
    3. Existing hotels that have done or intend to do substantial structural alteration; and
    4. Approved convention hotels with three hundred and fifty (350) or more bedrooms are entitled to income tax and import duty relief ranging from eleven to fifteen (11-15) years.

    Under the Hotels Incentives Act, any company that is recognized as owner, tenant and operator is entitled to benefits.

    Resort cottage incentive: Under the Resort Cottages Incentives Act new resort cottages are entitled to seven (7) years relief from income tax.

    A resort cottage owner is also entitled to an incentive for the purpose of an extension. The Resort Cottages Incentives Act defines "extension" as an existing group of resort cottages adding a minimum of five (5) rooms or 30% of the original investment, whichever is greater.

    Under the Resort Cottages Act, owners, tenants or operators of resort cottages or groups of resort cottages are entitled to benefits.

  8. How does one qualify for a hotel incentive?

    Hotels Incentives
    In order to qualify for an incentive under the Hotels Incentives Act, a hotel operator must be constructing a building, or a group of buildings within the same precinct containing or intended to contain when complete an aggregate number of not less than ten (10) bedrooms and facilities for meals for the accommodation of transient guests, including tourists, for reward, together with the precinct thereof and all other buildings and structures within such precinct. A hotel operator is also entitled to an incentive for the purpose of an extension.

    The Hotels Incentives Act provides that a ten (10) year relief from GCT, income tax and import duty is available to:

    1. New Hotels
    2. Existing hotels adding a minimum of ten (10) rooms or thirty percent (30%) of the existing number of rooms (whichever is greater).
    3. Existing hotels that have done or intend to do substantial structural alteration.
    4. Approved convention hotels with three hundred and fifty (350) or more bedrooms are entitled to income tax and import duty relief ranging from eleven to fifteen (11-15) years.

    Under the Hotels Incentives Act, any company that is recognized as owner, tenant and operator is entitled to benefits.

    1. Hotel incentives application – Form A (new hotels)
    2. Hotel incentives application – Form C (extension of existing hotels)

  9. How does one qualify for a resort cottage incentive?

    Resort Cottages
    The Resort Cottages Incentives Act stipulates that a resort cottage operator is entitled to an incentive for the purpose of building a group of resort cottages containing at least 10 bedrooms in the same village or district.

    New resort cottages operators are entitled to seven (7) years relief from income tax.

    If the same owner builds a group of resort cottages containing at least 10 bedrooms in the same village or district, the owner is entitled to seven (7) years relief from GCT, income tax and importation duties.

    A resort cottage owner is also entitled to an incentive for the purpose of an extension. The Resort Cottages Incentives Act defines "extension" as an existing group of resort cottages adding a minimum of five (5) rooms or 30% of the original investment, whichever is greater.

    Under the Resort Cottages Act, owners, tenants or operators of resort cottages or groups of resort cottages are entitled to benefits.

    1. Resort cottages incentive – application form E
    2. Resort Cottages incentive – Data & supporting documents

  10. How does one qualify for an attraction incentive?

    1. Attraction Incentive Fact Sheet
    2. Attraction Incentive – application form and supporting documents required

  11. What are the requirements to obtain a work permit for employment in the tourism sector?

    1. Work permit / exemption application form
    2. New Work Permit Checklist
    3. Renewal of Work Permit Checklist

  12. What is the Tourism Enhancement Fund?

    1. TEF Overview
    2. TEF Fact Sheet

  13. What is the Tourism Master Plan?

    Executive Summary of the Tourism Master Plan

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