Jamaica has earmarked $14 million to upgrade port facilities at Ocho Rios ahead of the visit of larger ships later this year,
Minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett said improvements are swiftly needed before the arrival of mega cruise liners from Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian later in the year,
"The money of course will be coming from both the Port Authority of Jamaica and the Tourism Enhancement Fund," Bartlett said.
Carnival Cruise Line noted the work Jamaica is doing to imprive the look of the terminal and local area to make it as welcoming as possible for cruisers.
"The ports are doing a great job in terms of improving the product. In Ocho Rios we note the work that is going on at the nearby fisherman’s beach which we can see will help to enhance the experience of our guests. All in all, Carnival is very impressed with the progress being made," said Carnival’s vice president of strategic and commercial port development, Carlos Torres de Navarra, during the recent Florida Caribbean Cruise Association event in Montego Bay.
Meanwhile after numerous incidents of harassment of cruise visitors, the government’s measures to eradicate this problem seems to be paying off.
Problems have occurred in the past at both Falmouth and Ocho Rios ports but the FCCA acknowledged significant improvements with more cruise passengers now inclined to disembark and explore the island either on approved shore excursions or independently.
"We have stepped up our anti-harassment drive and also our tourism product has improved tremendously over time," Bartlett said.
